Two teens with budding football careers were among three who were killed as a car flipped over in the New Mexican desert Monday evening. Polo Manukainiu, 19 and defensive lineman for Texas A&M, and Gaius "Keio'' Vaenuku, 18 and recruited by Utah's football team, died as a result of a wreck 85 miles north of Albuquerque. The three who were killed all had ties to prep football at Trinity High School in Euless, Sports Illustrated reported.
The 2002 Toyota Sequoia where the young men were passengers in, along with 13-year-old Andrew "Lolo'' Uhatafe, the 18-year-old driver Siaosi Salesi Uhatafe Jr. and his father, was traveling southbound when Uhatafe over-corrected, causing the vehicle to turn over multiple times. The 13-year-old and Manukainiu were thrown from the vehicle. Manukainiu was pronounced dead at the scene along with the 13-year-old. Vaenuku was pronounced dead in the ambulance. Uhatafe and his father, Siaosi Salesi Uhatafe Sr. were transported to San Juan Medical Center in Farmington, N.M.
Manukainiu apparently traveled to Salt Lake City for a brief respite and was on his way back to Texas. Hours before the accident he tweeted: "22 hour drive back to Texas on no sleep. Oh my." Alcohol was not involved in the crash, authorities said. Manukainiu was part of the Aggie's 2012 signing team. The team released a statement not long after his death praising his contributions to the team.
"We lost a terrific young man,'' Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Polo was loved by his teammates and coaches. Anyone who came in contact with him was struck by his sense of humor and smile. My heart aches for his mom and family members.''
Vaenuku played as a defensive lineman for Utah, where he planned on staying for one year before moving on to a two-year Mormon mission. He originally planned to play for Birmingham Young, a school owned by the Church of Latter-day Saints where he was a member, but felt more comfortable playing with Utah.
"Everyone who knew Gaius is heartbroken today,'' Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He was the kind of young man who lit up a room and his future in football and life had no boundaries. Words cannot express our devastation over the loss of Gaius.''
Trinity High Principal Mike Harris said the loss of the two deeply affected the school and community, which has a closely knit Polynesian community.
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