16-Year-Old Football Player Deejay Tuiasosopo Was Killed on a Sidewalk After a Game: Two Drivers Now Face Vehicular Homicide Charges After Speeds Reached Nearly 90 MPH

A high school junior standing on a Washington sidewalk after a football game was killed when two vehicles collided at high speed, sending one car careening directly onto the pedestrian path. The victim, 16-year-old Deejay Tuiasosopo, was fatally struck along Pacific Highway South in Federal Way around 10:45 p.m. on Oct. 23. Authorities have since charged both motorists involved with vehicular homicide, uncovering a catastrophic chain of events fueled by extreme speed and intoxication.

Prosecutors revealed that one vehicle was traveling at nearly double the posted speed limit without braking, while the other motorist registered a blood alcohol level more than double the legal limit. The sudden crash cut short the life of a promising student-athlete with deep family roots in professional football, leaving a Pacific Northwest community searching for answers.

How the Deadly Pacific Highway Collision Unfolded

The fatal incident occurred at the busy intersection of Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street. According to investigators, Roberto Emory was behind the wheel of a Ford F-150 making a left turn across traffic on a flashing yellow arrow. At that exact moment, a Lexus driven by Luis Santos barreled into the intersection.

Santos slammed into Emory’s pickup truck, causing the car to veer sharply out of control, jump the curb onto the sidewalk, and strike Tuiasosopo before smashing into a utility pole. Both drivers remained at the scene until law enforcement officers arrived.

Deejay Tuiasosopo, a student-athlete at Federal Way High School.

Crash data later laid bare the severity of the impact. Detectives determined Santos was driving at approximately 87.6 mph in a 45 mph zone immediately before the wreck. Crash reconstruction records showed Santos made no attempt to apply the brakes prior to impact.

Emory also faced immediate scrutiny after officers evaluated his condition at the scene. He subsequently failed a preliminary breath test with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.170, far exceeding Washington state’s legal threshold of 0.08.

Court Filings and Charges Against Both Drivers

On Oct. 29, authorities formally booked and charged both Santos and Emory with vehicular homicide. Judges ordered each suspect held on a $200,000 bail pending formal court proceedings, with Emory scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 2 and Santos on Nov. 9.

Records indicate Emory has previously faced charges for vehicular homicide involving driving under the influence and operating with disregard for the safety of others.

“He was serious about his sports; he had dreams, he wanted to be a state champion. And the fact he can’t do that, that’s just, it just feels sad.” — David Rodriguez, teammate

Misconceptions Surrounding Fault in Intersectional Crashes

A common public misconception in multi-car pedestrian fatalities is that primary criminal liability falls solely on the driver who turns across oncoming traffic. Washington criminal law demonstrates that reckless excessive speed and extreme intoxication can result in simultaneous vehicular homicide charges for both operators.

When Santos traveled at roughly 88 mph on a commercial surface road and Emory turned impaired into oncoming lanes, prosecutors treated the independent actions of both drivers as direct criminal factors in Tuiasosopo’s death.

A Community and Football Legacy Mourns

Tuiasosopo had recently started his junior year at Federal Way High School, where he had just earned his spot on the varsity football roster. The crash occurred only hours after he wrapped up Friday night game duties with his team.

Athletic greatness ran through Tuiasosopo’s family bloodline. His great-uncle, Manu Tuiasosopo, was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks before later joining the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he won a Super Bowl championship in the 1980s.

Deejay Tuiasosopo pictured in athletic team gear.

Tributes across the Federal Way educational community reflected on the junior’s personal character outside the locker room. Administrators at his former school, Sacajawea Middle School, highlighted his leadership and personality:

“Deejay was a student-athlete who valued his education and his time on the field with his teammates. He brought warmth and energy to all who came in contact with him. His passing is a tremendous loss, and his presence will be greatly missed.” — Sacajawea Middle School

His aunt, Kathlyne Tuiasosopo Utu, organized a verified GoFundMe memorial fund to help support the family with unexpected expenses, writing that their world was “shattered in a matter of moments.”

💬 The devastating crash has reignited calls for pedestrian safety and strict accountability for reckless driving along busy transit corridors.

📱 Support systems and memorial tributes continue to grow across South King County as classmates and teammates remember the 16-year-old athlete.

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments below to share your condolences or perspectives on holding both speeding and impaired drivers fully accountable.