Coroner says KSU lineman died of heart condition

<br>(Manhattan, Kansas-AP) -- The Kansas State football player in a traffic crash this week suffered from a rare heart condition that caused his death. <br><br>Riley County Coroner John Bambara says

Thursday, August 3rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Manhattan, Kansas-AP) -- The Kansas State football player in a traffic crash this week suffered from a rare heart condition that caused his death.

Riley County Coroner John Bambara says defensive lineman Anthony Bates had heart failure Monday before his pickup truck swerved into oncoming traffic in Manhattan. The pickup sideswiped one car, then crossed the road and slammed into a pair of parked cars.

Bambara says an autopsy shows Bates suffered from hyper-trophic cardio-myopathy. The main feature of the disease is an excessive thickening of the heart muscle.

The coroner says Bates' was about three times normal size. People with the condition usually feel fine and show no symptoms. Bambara said he's seen just a few cases in his 20-yearcareer.