Two college football players were killed in a single car accident in northern New Mexico on Monday night, according to officials, ESPN reported.
Poli Manukainiu, a defensive line at Texas A&M and Gaius Vaenuku, an incoming freshman defensive tackle at Utah were killed in a rollover accident near Cuba, New Mexico. Andrew Uhatafe, a 13-year-old, was also killed.
New Mexico State Police said the accident occurred as the driver overcorrected and the vehicle rolled several times, ESPN reported. Alcohol was not a factor, police said, and it appeared that the driver had been the only one in the car to be wearing a seatbelt.
Manukaine and Uhatafe were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Vaenuku was transported from the scene, but was soon pronounced dead en route to a hospital.
Two people, offensive tackle Salesi Uhatafe and his father Salesi Sr., survived the crash.
"Everyone who knew Gaius is heartbroken today," Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham said Tuesday. "He was the kind of young man who lit up a room and his future in football and life had no boundaries. Words cannot express our devastation over the loss of Gaius. This is a sad day not only for University of Utah football, but for everyone whose lives Gaius crossed or would have crossed but for this tragedy. Our hearts go out to Gaius' and Salesi's families, and to the Texas A&M coaches and players. We are praying for the speedy recovery of Salesi and his father."
We lost a terrific young man," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said in a statement. "Polo was loved by his teammates and coaches. Anyone who came in contact with him was struck by his sense of humor and smile. My heart aches for his mom and family members."
The 19-year-old Manukainiu had been seen as one of the most standout defensive ends in the college football.
