A tragic accident claimed the life of a promising college soccer player from California, nearly six weeks after she and a teammate were hit by a box truck while riding electric scooters near their campus. Lauren Turner, a 19-year-old sophomore at Cal State Fullerton, succumbed to her injuries on November 7, following the devastating crash on September 27.
Turner’s family shared their grief and memories of their beloved daughter on a GoFundMe page. They described her as a joyful, vibrant young woman who brought laughter and comfort to those around her. Her dedication to soccer was evident in her determination and the encouragement she offered her teammates. Her coaches and peers have shared numerous stories of her positive attitude, humor, competitiveness, and leadership, both on and off the field.
The accident occurred on the evening of September 27, as Turner and her teammate, sophomore Ashlyn Gwynn, were riding their electric scooters to a Cal State men’s soccer game. They were struck by a box truck traveling in the same lane on Associated Road, just north of the Southern California campus.
According to the Fullerton Police Department, the two athletes were in the second lane at the time of the crash. Satellite images reveal a bike lane separating the right turn lane from the other lanes near the intersection with Yorba Linda Blvd. The police department has stated that neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to have been involved in the accident.
The driver of the Ford Econoline E350 truck remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. No arrests have been made in connection with the accident. Turner was admitted to the ICU with severe head trauma following the crash.
Turner, a native of Tustin, California, had a promising soccer career. She played in all 20 matches during her freshman year, scoring one goal and one assist. In her second season, she played in all 10 matches before the accident, starting in eight and logging a total of 595 minutes.
Gwynn was also severely injured in the accident and was admitted to the ICU. She was later moved to a “Step Down” unit, according to her family’s GoFundMe page. The Titan women’s soccer team honored their teammates during the season by wearing custom arm and wrist bands bearing Turner and Gwynn’s initials and numbers.
A candlelight vigil for Turner is scheduled to be held at the on-campus soccer stadium. Meanwhile, Fullerton secured the third seed in the Big West Conference tournament, defeating CSU Bakersfield in the quarterfinals before losing to Cal Poly in the semifinals.