<p>ST. LOUIS — Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager likely died of a “cardiac event,” not injuries from a highway accident, the St. Louis medical examiner said Friday.</p>
<p>Plager, 78, an original member of the Blues whose long association with the team continued until his death, was alone in his car when the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-accidents-new-york-rangers-nhl-st-louis-blues-621182ada3d68d57177c17dae3c6ad79">accident happened Wednesday afternoon</a> on Interstate 64 near downtown St. Louis.</p>
<p>Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Graham performed an autopsy and said Plager didn’t sustain any injuries that would have been life-threatening. Graham is awaiting further tests and routine toxicology results.</p>
<p>A report from St. Louis police said Plager’s SUV veered to the left and struck a minivan before hitting a concrete wall on the right, then crossing back over and striking a concrete center median. Plager was pronounced dead at a hospital. The driver and passenger in the van were not hurt, police said.</p>
<p>Plager came to the Blues from the New York Rangers when the NHL expanded in 1967-68. He played 11 seasons for St. Louis — teaming for a stretch with brothers Barclay and Bill — and later worked for the organization in a variety of roles. He coached the Blues for 11 games in 1992.</p>
<p>The Ontario native scored 20 goals with 126 assists and 802 penalty minutes in 644 regular-season NHL games, and added two goals, 17 assists and 195 penalty minutes in 74 playoff games.</p>
