A former Seattle Mariners player and Yakima mayor is fighting for his life after a Sunday afternoon crash that killed his wife in Yakima County, Washington. Dave Edler, 70, was critically injured when another vehicle struck the couple’s car head-on. His wife, Susie Edler, 67, died at the hospital. A 26-year-old driver has been arrested in connection with the collision.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. November 8, on Coolidge Road near South 76th Avenue, in the 7600 block of the roadway. Dave and Susie, both Yakima residents, were traveling together when the collision occurred.
Police said their preliminary investigation points to the other driver traveling westbound in the eastbound lane at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then collided head-on with the Edlers’ car. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that alcohol contributed to the crash.
Both victims were taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Susie was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. Dave’s injuries were serious enough that he had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for additional treatment.
The 26-year-old driver, who also lives in Yakima, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Yakima County Jail. He faces charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. Police have not concluded their investigation, and the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under review.
Long before Sunday’s crash, Dave Edler had built a life that connected professional sports, local government and church leadership. Baseball fans may remember him from his years with the Seattle Mariners, where he played primarily at third base between 1980 and 1983.
Edler made his major league debut on September 4, 1980. Before reaching the majors, he played college baseball at Washington State University and spent time working his way through the Mariners’ minor-league system. He eventually returned to Yakima, where his career took a different direction.
He later became involved in ministry, serving alongside Susie at Yakima Foursquare Church. The couple spent 24 years helping lead the congregation and develop its network of churches. Their work became a major part of their lives in Yakima, where they were known for their involvement in the church and the wider community.
In April 2019, the couple formally handed leadership of Yakima Foursquare Church to their son, Jacob, and daughter-in-law, Chantal. Dave continued serving in the broader Foursquare movement, taking on leadership responsibilities that involved churches across several surrounding states.
His public service career was another important part of his life in Yakima. Edler joined the Yakima City Council in 2003 and became mayor in 2006. He served as mayor through 2010, building a public profile that went beyond his earlier years in professional baseball.
A 2009 profile published by Washington State University documented his journey from college baseball to the major leagues, followed by his return to Yakima and his work in ministry and public service.
Sunday’s collision has now brought a painful chapter to the lives of the Edler family. Susie is dead, while Dave remains hospitalized after being flown to Seattle. Police say the investigation is ongoing, with alcohol believed to have been a contributing factor.
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