A Washington high school football player from a family of NFL players was killed by an alleged drunk driver — close to where he’d just played a game hours earlier.
Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, was in his first season with the Federal Way High School football team and had dreams of becoming a state champion as he looked to become his family’s latest success story before his untimely death Friday, KOMO reported.
Tuiasosopo was standing on the sidewalk late Friday — near to where he had played football that night — when he was struck by a car that had smashed into another vehicle at an intersection.
Tuiasosopo was pronounced dead at the scene while a man, 29, was arrested on a vehicular homicide charge for allegedly being under the influence. Police have not revealed any further details about the suspect, nor disclosed anything about the other driver’s condition.
The 220-pound running back and linebacker was set to graduate high school in 2028 and was someone who “had dreams,” his pal and teammate David Rodriguez said.
“The fact he can’t do that, that’s just, it just feels 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 the 2001 Rose Bowl MVP and played eight seasons in the NFL for the Raiders and Jets as a quarterback.
Manu Tuiasosopo and his wife Lisa raised four other kids. Their son Zach, who was born three years after Marques, played on practice squads for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, Catholic Online reported.
He never made an NFL appearance, the outlet reported.
Their daughter Leslie is head coach of the University of Washington’s women’s volleyball team while Matt Tuiasosopo is an ex-MLB utility player.
Two unidentified uncles told KOMO they have been left numb by what unfolded by the intersection.
A vigil was held Saturday near to where Tuiasosopo was killed — with mourners leaving flowers and balloons, including the number five and six, which was a nod to the athlete’s No. 56 jersey.
