Promising Young Texas Athlete Killed When Car Ran Red Light

An 18-year-old soccer player died last week after the car he was traveling in ran a red light and hit another car.

On Tuesday morning the young soccer player, a freshman at San Jacinto College, was on the way to soccer practice with three teammates in a BMW. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the BMW ran a red light at the intersection of Beamer Road and Astoria Boulevard, hitting another car. The impact of the car collision caused the BMW to roll over. The 18 year old, who was in the back seat, was not wearing his seat belt. He died at the scene of the fatal accident.

The other three passengers in the BMW all sustained minor injuries in the car accident and the driver was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The 18 year old had been a member of the U.S. U17 (under-17) national team. He was also a part of the FC Dallas Academy, playing on the FC Dallas U18 team that defeated Barcelona at the Dallas Cup. Following the accident on Tuesday afternoon, his soccer coach at San Jacinto acknowledged that he was a quiet young man with goals of playing professional soccer.

Law enforcement officials investigating the accident did not believe alcohol to be a factor in the car accident. The investigation remains underway.

Source: Houston Chronicle, “Crash kills San Jac athlete, injures 3 others,” 9/13/11