16-Year-Old Football Player Deejay Tuiasosopo Killed in Crash After High School Game

Washington teenager from a prominent athletic family was standing on a sidewalk when a vehicle struck him following a two-car collision. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

A Washington high school football player with a bright future and a deep family connection to professional sports has died at just 16 after being struck by a vehicle hours after playing in a Friday night game.

Deejay Tuiasosopo, a junior at Federal Way High School, was killed on October 23, 2026, when a vehicle left the roadway and hit him on a sidewalk near Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street in Federal Way, according to police.

The teenager had played in a football game earlier that evening. His sudden death has left teammates, friends, relatives and the wider community grieving a young life cut tragically short.

A Night That Ended in Tragedy

Police responded to the crash at approximately 10:48 p.m. Friday. According to the preliminary investigation, two vehicles collided at the intersection before one left the roadway and struck Tuiasosopo, who was standing nearby.

Emergency responders attempted to help the teenager, but he died at the scene.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide. Authorities suspect the driver was under the influence, and the investigation remains ongoing. An arrest is not a conviction, and formal charges are subject to the legal process.

The collision happened close to the high school, just hours after Tuiasosopo had taken the field with his teammates.

A Young Athlete With Big Dreams

Tuiasosopo was playing his first season with Federal Way High School’s Eagles after transferring to the school. He played running back and linebacker, wearing jersey No. 56, and was expected to graduate in 2028.

For those who knew him, he was more than an athlete. Friends and teammates remembered a positive young man whose smile, humor and energy made an impression on the people around him.

His teammate and friend David Rodriguez spoke about the painful reality that Tuiasosopo would never get the chance to fulfill the dreams he had been working toward.

“The fact he can’t do that, that’s just, it just feels sad,” Rodriguez said.

Other teammates described him as someone who brought positivity to practices and games, even when things were difficult.

The loss has also strengthened their determination to continue the season in his memory, with teammates saying they hope to make it to the state championship.

A Family With a Remarkable Sporting Legacy

Deejay came from a family whose name is well known across football and other sports in the Pacific Northwest.

His great-uncle, Manu Tuiasosopo, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XIX in January 1985.

Manu’s son, Marques Tuiasosopo, became a standout quarterback at the University of Washington and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2001 Rose Bowl. He later played in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

Other relatives also built careers in sports, including Matt Tuiasosopo, who played Major League Baseball, and Leslie Gabriel, head coach of the University of Washington women’s volleyball team. Zach Tuiasosopo also spent time on NFL practice squads.

But Deejay was beginning to build a legacy of his own—one shaped by his love of sports, his teammates and the ambitions he carried into each game.

Community Gathers to Remember No. 56

On Saturday, friends, family members, teammates and community residents gathered near the crash site for a vigil in his honor.

Flowers, balloons, candles and other tributes were placed near the intersection where he lost his life. Some memorial items featured the numbers five and six, a tribute to the jersey he wore on the field.

His relatives also spoke publicly about the shock and heartbreak of losing him so suddenly.

The gathering became a place for the community to mourn together, remember his life and show support for a family facing an unimaginable loss.

A Life Remembered Beyond the Field

Deejay Tuiasosopo’s death has left a painful absence in his school and football community. At 16, he had years of possibilities ahead of him—more games to play, goals to pursue and milestones to reach.

Now, the people who knew him are holding on to the memories he left behind and the impact he made in the time they shared.

As investigators continue examining the crash, his teammates and loved ones are left to remember a young athlete whose story ended far too soon.

For those gathered around the memorial, the numbers 56 are more than a jersey number. They are a reminder of Deejay, the teammate they loved and the future he deserved the chance to pursue.