Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, was standing on a sidewalk when a two-car crash sent a vehicle off the road, authorities said.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A 16-year-old Federal Way High School football player was killed late Friday when a two-car collision sent a vehicle onto a sidewalk near his school, striking him only hours after he had played in a football game, authorities said.
Deejay Tuiasosopo died at the scene of the Oct. 23 crash near Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street. Police arrested a 29-year-old driver on suspicion of vehicular homicide and said investigators suspected alcohol impairment. A judge later found probable cause for the arrest, and the man was being held on $200,000 bail as prosecutors considered formal charges. An arrest does not establish guilt.
Federal Way police said officers responded at about 10:48 p.m. after two vehicles collided at the intersection. A preliminary investigation found that one of the vehicles left the roadway after the impact and struck Tuiasosopo, who was on the sidewalk. Police and firefighters tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers remained at the crash site, according to published police accounts.
Court records cited by FOX 13 Seattle said the collision involved a pickup truck and another vehicle before the second vehicle was forced onto the sidewalk. Authorities have continued investigating the sequence of events and whether impairment contributed to the crash. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was expected to make a decision on formal charges after reviewing the case.
Tuiasosopo was a junior at Federal Way High School and a member of both the football and wrestling programs. He had transferred to Federal Way and was playing his first season with the Eagles. Hours before his death, Federal Way defeated White River 28-27 during a senior night game. Friends and teammates said Tuiasosopo had hoped to help his team compete for a state championship.
His death prompted an outpouring of grief across the school community. Students, teammates, coaches and relatives gathered near the crash site during the weekend, leaving flowers, candles, balloons and signs in his memory. Many of the tributes displayed his No. 56 football jersey number.
Friend Stormie Corey told KING that Tuiasosopo was known for his smile and for supporting the people around him. Teammate Chester Maletala described him as more than a teammate and said the football team planned to keep his memory with them as they continued their season. Other students said his humor and positive attitude stood out even during difficult practices and games.
Tuiasosopo’s family said in a statement that his influence reached well beyond athletics. They described him as a student-athlete who placed importance on both school and sports and who cared about people whether he had known them for years or had just met them. The family said the response after his death showed them how many people he had affected.
He was also part of a family with deep ties to sports in Washington and beyond. His extended relatives include former NFL players Manu Tuiasosopo and Marques Tuiasosopo, former Major League Baseball player Matt Tuiasosopo and University of Washington women’s volleyball coach Leslie Gabriel. Family members said Deejay was establishing an identity of his own through his work in school, football and wrestling.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remained under investigation Wednesday. Authorities have not announced a final determination about the collision, and any allegations against the arrested driver must be resolved through the court process. The community, meanwhile, continued gathering around Tuiasosopo’s family and teammates as Federal Way High School mourned the loss of the 16-year-old athlete.
Author note: Last updated October 28, 2026.