A 16-year-old Washington high school football player was killed Friday night, Oct. 23, when a vehicle struck him on a sidewalk after a two-car collision.
Deejay Tuiasosopo, a junior on the Federal Way football team, died at the scene after the crash at the intersection of Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street, according to the Federal Way Police Department. The news was first reported by KOMO
.Officers responded at about 10:48 p.m. Friday. A preliminary investigation found that two vehicles collided before one left the roadway and struck Tuiasosopo, who was standing on a nearby sidewalk.
Both drivers remained at the scene. A 29-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, police
said. The Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating.
Tuiasosopo's death prompted an outpouring of grief from teammates, friends and family members, who gathered Saturday at a memorial near the crash site with candles, flowers, balloons and signs bearing his No. 56 jersey number.
Tuiasosopo had transferred to Federal Way and was playing his first season with the Eagles. The team won 28-27 on senior night against White River.
Tuiasosopo also came from a prominent athletic family in the Pacific Northwest. His extended relatives include former NFL players Manu and Marques Tuiasosopo, former Major League Baseball player Matt Tuiasosopo and Leslie Gabriel, head coach of the University of Washington women's volleyball team.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @AlexMartinUSAT or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington high school football player, 16, killed in crash
