Police in Eugene Oregon late Friday identified a man whose body was found after a fatal early-morning car crash near Autzen Stadium as Fotu Tuli Leiato, 21, a former University of Oregon football player.
About five hours after the crash, police said, a body was found near the crash scene after a woman walking in the area saw a hand sticking out of brush.
Eugene police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin late Friday night identified the victim as Leiato, who she said was a passenger in the vehicle.
Investigating officers believe that the 22-year-old driver, identified by police as Pedro Chavarin Jr., lied to them early Friday morning after he crashed a car and said he had no passengers.
Leiato’s body was found partially covered with brush on a gravel path.
Police first responded to the area just after 2:30 a.m. Friday in response to a single-vehicle rollover crash near the intersection.
The car, a 2014 Kia sedan, rolled off the road and into some heavy brush before coming to a stop.
Chavarin told police that he was alone in his car and not carrying any passengers.
He was taken to a local hospital and later cited for driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Leiato was dismissed from the program by first-year coach Mario Cristobal after he was arrested on April 25 for allegedly removing a parking boot from a vehicle.
The senior-to-be also was booked on a warrant for failing to appear in Eugene Municipal Court earlier to face a second-degree criminal trespass charge.
Entering spring practice, the 5-foot-11, 202-pound Leiato was projected as a starter at the hybrid “Duck” linebacker position.
Leiato still was enrolled at the UO and was majoring in sociology.
