Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani could miss the Copa America quarterfinal with Chile after his father was involved in a car crash which killed a 19-year old motorcyclist on Monday night, national team coach Oscar Tabarez has said.

Luis Cavani was arrested by police in the Uruguayan town of Salto, according to Reuters, after being involved in a collision while driving a truck owned by his son.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker has not yet revealed whether he will remain with the squad or return home, but his coach insists that he will be given time to make his decision.

"We have spoken with him to give him all our support but other very personal things can derive from that state he is in," Tabarez told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. "He is affected by it, as anyone in a similar situation would be. We'll let time pass so he can adapt to the situation.

"From our team's point of view he is a player with bags of experience and... we will keep talking with him. I am confident he will put the pieces in their place so he can focus on the game."

The Copa America quarterfinals begin on Wednesday with Uruguay having qualified as one of the best third-place teams behind Argentina and Paraguay in Group B.