Driver charged with manslaughter for death of Fotu Leiato

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The driver in the crash that killed former University of Oregon football player Fotu Leiato was arrested on Tuesday and charged with manslaughter, according to Eugene police.

After an investigation by the Eugene Police Department’s Major Collision investigation team and Lane County Medical Examiner, Pedro Chavarin Jr. was arrested at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and charged with manslaughter in the first degree.

If convicted, the minimum prison sentence for first-degree manslaughter in Oregon is 10 years.

Chavarin Jr. was already charged with DUI following the crash early Friday morning near Autzen Stadium.

According to police, Chavarin Jr. rolled a 2014 Kia Sedan off the road and into the brush near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Kinsrow Avenue.

Police responded to the crash around 2:30 a.m., Leiato’s body was found around 7 a.m. after a woman saw a hand sticking out of the brush, according to police.

Chavarin Jr. had told police he was the only occupant of the vehicle.

Leiato came to Oregon as a three-star recruit out of Steilacoom, Wash. in the class of 2015.

He played primarily on special teams as a true freshman, eventually earning time at safety and then linebacker last season as a junior, seeing action in all 13 games.

Leiato was dismissed from the team in April after he was arrested on charges of theft and criminal mischief.