SAN DIEGO – The brother of Pro Football Hall of Famer Junior Seau was killed in a collision with a dump truck in California on Tuesday, authorities said.
Savaii Seau, 56, of El Cajon, a teacher and coach, died after his Audi AG drifted into the path of an oncoming Helix Water District truck at around 2:10 p.m. PST, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. He was not wearing a seat belt and suffered major injuries, police said. He died at an area hospital, the newspaper reported.
The truck was driven by a 60-year-old San Diego man, the California Highway Patrol told KNSD-TV.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner confirmed Savaii Seau’s identity, CHP Officer Travis Garrow told KSWB-TV by email.
Savaii Seau’s 42-year-old wife suffered minor injuries along with the truck driver, the Union-Tribune reported. Both were wearing seat belts, authorities said.
Savaii Seau taught physical education at Warren-Walker School, a private school in San Diego, according to The Associated Press. He also coached flag football, basketball, and track at its middle school campus. He also taught art during the school’s summer programs, according to Headmaster Raymond Volker.
“The hearts of the entire Warren-Walker School community are heavy as we have lost a great human being, teacher and friend today,” Volker said in a statement. “A fatal car accident has claimed our beloved Coach Seau, who rained love on all of his students, was a bright light in our (school) family, and (was) loved by all. His inspiration, support and incredibly unselfish spirit will be missed by his family as well, and to whom we extend our deepest condolences.”
Junior Seau, played 21 years as a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. He died in 2012 of a gunshot wound to the chest and was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can only be diagnosed after death, according to the AP.
Junior Seau was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
