Texas A&M player killed in overnight crash

COLLEGE STATION — A Texas A&M freshman defensive lineman from Euless and two other teens were killed overnight Monday in a one-vehicle rollover crash in New Mexico.

Polo Manukainiu, 19, was a passenger in a 2002 Toyota Sequoia that was traveling south on U.S. 550 near Cuba, N.M. about 6:52 p.m. Mountain time when the SUV drifted off of the roadway, New Mexico State Police Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez said. The driver overcorrected and the SUV rolled several times.

Gutierrez said Manukainiu and another passenger, Andrew Uhatafe, 13, were ejected from the SUV and died. Gaius Vaenuku, 18, an incoming member of the Utah football team, was also pronounced dead at the location.

The driver, Siaosi Uhatafe, 18, and his father, Salesi Uhatafe, were taken to San Juan Medical Center in Farmington, N.M. with minor injuries.

Fua Sapoi, 18, hugs a teacher during a memorial Tuesday, July 30, 2013 in Euless, Texas, dedicated to three teenagers who died Monday in a New Mexico car crash, two of whom were Sapoi's former teammates at Trinity High School in Euless. Texas A&M said Tuesday that redshirt freshman Polo Manukainiu and a friend who was joining the Utah football team this fall were among the three killed in the single-car rollover crash in the high desert of northern New Mexico, stunning both schools just days before fall practices begin. (AP Photo/Uriel J. Garcia) less Fua Sapoi, 18, hugs a teacher during a memorial Tuesday, July 30, 2013 in Euless, Texas, dedicated to three teenagers who died Monday in a New Mexico car crash, two of whom were Sapoi's former teammates at ... more Photo: Uriel J. Garcia, Associated Press Photo: Uriel J. Garcia, Associated Press Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Texas A&M player killed in overnight crash 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

“We lost a terrific young man,” Texas A&M head football Coach Kevin Sumlin said in a statement released by the school. “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.”

Manukainiu, who helped lead Trinity High School in Euless to an undefeated regular season in 2011, and rivals rated him the No. 30 overall defensive end in the nation coming out of high school, was driving back from Utah when the crash occurred.

The driver was not intoxicated, Gutierrez said, though speeding has not yet been ruled out as a factor. Siaosi Uhatafe was the only person in the SUV wearing a seatbelt.

One of Manukainiu's last posts on Twitter reads, “22 hour drive back to Texas on no sleep. Oh my.”

Manukainiu's Twitter followers, many of them friends, posted comments of condolences.

“(My) Heart hurts waking up to news about Polo,” A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, tweeted. “I think I speak for everyone on our team when I say we love you brother you will be missed.”

The Aggies are supposed to report for camp Sunday and start practice Monday.

Coming off an 11-2 finish in their first year in the Southeastern Conference, including an upset at top-ranked Alabama, this is considered A&M's most anticipated season in history.

Manukainiu, who redshirted last season, was expected to compete for playing time on a defensive line that lost starters Spencer Nealy (a senior leader and the Aggie Heart Award winner) and junior Damontre Moore to the NFL.

Manukainiu was a recreation, parks and tourism science major and is survived by his mother, Lima Uhatafe of Euless. Manukainiu helped Trinity High School to an undefeated regular season and the state playoffs in 2011 as an all-district defensive end and was a four-star recruit according to ESPN.

A&M sports are no stranger to tragedy involving automobile accidents in recent years.

In December 2011, A&M reserve offensive lineman Joey Villavisencio was killed south of Normangee while en route home to Jacksonville, Texas, for the holidays. Also, incoming freshman Tobi Oyedeji, a highly-recruited basketball player, was killed in May 2010 following his Bellaire High prom. He was supposed to move to College Station only a few weeks later.

Check mySA.com for more details on this developing story.

aley@express-news.net

Staff Writers Elizabeth Zavala and Brent Zwerneman contributed to this report.