M. Coolbaugh cause of death

Coroner: Ball hit Coolbaugh on neck, ruptured artery
Associated Press

Updated: July 25, 2007, 12:25 PM ET
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 TULSA, Okla. -- The foul ball that killed Tulsa Drillers hitting coach Mike Coolbaugh ruptured an artery in his neck and he died from a loss of blood to the brain, a coroner said.

Coolbaugh

Pulaski County (Ark.) Coroner Mark Malcolm told the Tulsa World Tuesday that the line drive hit Coolbaugh on the left side of the neck while he stood in the first-base coach's box during Sunday's minor league game in Arkansas.

"I think everyone assumed he was hit in the head," Malcolm said. "It's probably what it looked like, but he was actually hit on the back of his neck just behind the ear."

Coolbaugh was standing in the first-base coach's box about 90 feet from home plate when Driller Tino Sanchez hit the foul line drive.

Medical personnel administered CPR on the field before Coolbaugh was taken by ambulance to Baptist Medical Center in North Little Rock, where he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.

Malcolm said there was nothing medical personnel could have done to save Coolbaugh.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press