A Washington high school football player from a family of NFL players was killed by a suspected drunk driver — near where he had just played a game hours earlier.
Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, was in his first season with the Federal Way High School football team and dreamed of becoming a state champion as he sought to become his family’s final success story before his untimely death Friday, KOMO reported.
Tuiasosopo was standing on the sidewalk Friday night — near where he had played soccer that evening — when he was struck by a car that had crashed into another vehicle at an intersection.
Tuiasosopo was pronounced dead at the scene while a 29-year-old man was arrested for vehicular homicide after he was allegedly under the influence. Police have not released any further details about the suspect, or the condition of the other driver.
The 220-pound running back and linebacker was scheduled to graduate from high school in 2028 and was someone who “had dreams,” said his friend and teammate David Rodriguez.
“The fact that he can’t do that, it’s just, it’s just sad,” Rodriguez said.
Tuiasosopo’s family is steeped in sports history. His grandfather’s brother, Manu Tuiasosopo, 69, was a first-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft, where he joined the Seattle Seahawks. He joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1984 where he won Super Bowl XIX the following January.
Manu Tuiasosopo’s son, Marques Tuiasosopo, 47, was MVP of the 2001 Rose Bowl and played eight seasons in the NFL for the Raiders and Jets as a quarterback.
Manu Tuiasosopo and his wife Lisa raised four more children. Their son Zach, born three years after Marques, played on the practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, Catholic Online reported.
He never made an appearance in the NFL, the outlet reported.
Their daughter Leslie is the head coach of the University of Washington women’s volleyball team, while Matt Tuiasosopo is a former MLB utility player.
Two unidentified uncles told KOMO they remained unmoved by what happened at the intersection.
A vigil was held Saturday near where Tuiasosopo was killed – with mourners leaving flowers and balloons, including the numbers five and six, which were a nod to the athlete’s No. 56 jersey.
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