High School Football Player From Prominent NFL Family Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver
Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, was struck by a vehicle hours after playing in a game, according to reports.
A promising high school football player from a family with deep NFL ties was killed Friday night by an alleged drunk driver near the field where he had played hours earlier. Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, a first-year player for Federal Way High School, was standing on a sidewalk when he was struck by a vehicle that had collided with another car at an intersection.
Tuiasosopo was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested a 29-year-old man on charges of vehicular homicide, alleging he was under the influence at the time of the crash. Details regarding the suspect or the condition of the other driver involved in the initial collision have not been released.
Teammates described Tuiasosopo, a running back and linebacker, as having aspirations of becoming a state champion. His friend and teammate David Rodriguez expressed sadness over the loss, stating, "The fact he can’t do that, that’s just, it just feels sad."
Tuiasosopo's family has a significant history in professional sports. His grandfather's brother, Manu Tuiasosopo, was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1979 and later won Super Bowl XIX with the San Francisco 49ers. Manu's son, Marques Tuiasosopo, was the MVP of the 2001 Rose Bowl and played eight seasons in the NFL as a quarterback.
Another relative, Zach Tuiasosopo, played on practice squads for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. Their daughter Leslie is the head coach of the University of Washington’s women’s volleyball team, and Matt Tuiasosopo is a former Major League Baseball utility player.
A vigil was held on Saturday near the site of the crash. Mourners gathered to leave flowers and balloons, including tributes marked with the numbers five and six, a nod to Tuiasosopo's No. 56 jersey.