Promising Football Stars Killed in Car Crash, Sleep Deprived

Incoming promising Texas A&M University freshman football player Polo Manukainiu and two other teens, including University of Utah’s Gaius Vaenuku were killed in a New Mexico car accident Monday night. Officials believe the crash was a result of sleep deprivation and have not released details on who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

Prior to embarking on the drive, Manukainiu, 19-years-old, tweeted "22 hour drive back to Texas on no sleep. Oh my."

He was on his way back from Utah with a couple of friends when the 2002 Toyota Sequoia they were traveling in drifted off the road while traveling southbound. A movement to overcorrect the vehicle caused it to roll sometime before 7 p.m. Mountain time.

Officials reported that the collision happened north of Albuquerque on Highway 550, just north of Cuba, New Mexico.

Manukainiu, along with Lolo Uhatafe died at the scene of the wreck. Vaenuku died while being taken to a local hospital.

Although it is not official, family members said the driver of the vehicle was Salesi Uhatafe, Jr, who along with his father, Salesi Uhatafe, Sr., the other passenger passenger in the vehicle, survived the wreck.

An initial investigation determined that alcohol was reportedly not involved in the wreck and the driver appeared to be the only person in the vehicle wearing a seat belt.

Manukainiu was a two-time all-district defensive end for Euless Trinity High School and redshirted in 2012 as a defensive lineman for Texas A&M.

"We lost a terrific young man," Texas A&M head football 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."

Texas A&M teammate Johnny Manziel took to Twitter to share his grief.

"Heart hurts waking up to news about Polo.. I think I speak for everyone on our team when I say we love you brother you will be missed," Manziel tweeted.

University of Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham also released a statement.

"Everyone who knew Gaius is heartbroken today," said Whittingham. "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."

Car accidents can be devastating to family and friends, make sure that the next time you are on the road, you get plenty of sleep to prevent drowsy driving automotive wrecks. 

If you were injured in a drowsy accident contact a Dara Law car accident lawyers.