Ojeda Declines to Speak : Aftermath: Cleveland Indian pitcher, released from hospital, avoids reporters.

Bob Ojeda, wearing a turban-like bandage under a baseball cap, was released from the hospital Thursday, three days after the boating accident that killed two Cleveland Indian teammates.

The 35-year-old pitcher, who underwent surgery for severe scalp lacerations, left South Lake Memorial Hospital through a side entrance, declining interviews.

Hospital officials said Ojeda was being driven to an undisclosed location to meet Roger McDowell, a former teammate on the New York Mets and Dodgers, who would then drive him home to his family.

“He and his family are still coping with his injury and the tragedy,” hospital spokeswoman Paulette Barney said. “They wanted privacy.”

Investigators, meanwhile, said it may be some time before they know what led to the accident on Little Lake Nellie that killed pitchers Tim Crews and Steve Olin.

“Unless things really fall in place in a hurry, we’re looking at several weeks,” said Lt. Vinard Hitt of the Florida Fresh Water Fish and Game Commission. “There are so many unknowns in this case, so many variables--that’s why we can’t set a deadline.”

One area of the investigation is whether the players were under the influence of alcohol when the boat crashed. Beer and vodka, and one empty beer can, were found aboard the 18-foot bass boat.

Before his release, Ojeda was interviewed again by investigators. Officials declined comment on that meeting, but in earlier questioning, Ojeda said he “didn’t remember seeing the dock or hitting the dock,” Hitt said.

Crews, who recently moved into a house on a newly built ranch overlooking the lake, was the owner and operator of the boat. Investigators say it may have been traveling at near top speed, which is 65 m.p.h. for the 150-horsepower motor, when it hit the dock.

All evidence, including blood-alcohol findings, will be turned over to the Lake County state attorney, Hitt said.