Ducks Digest

Oregon Football Player Daylen Austin Alleged Fatal Car Crash: New Details Report

Oregon Ducks football player Daylen Austin was arrested last month in connection to a fatal car crash in Eugene. New details have emerged in a report.

Bri Amaranthus

Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in
Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA
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Oregon Ducks football player Daylen Amir Austin was arrested last month in connection to a fatal car crash that killed a 46-year-old man in Eugene on April 15th, according to the Eugene Police Department.

Specifics surrounding the fatal car crash have emerged regarding the deceased pedestrian, who police identified as Frank William Seaman, a homeless man. Fifteen minutes before the deadly crash, a man that fit Seaman's description "threw a baseball-sized object at a white SUV car matching the description of Austin’s vehicle", according to a report from the Oregonian.

The Oregonian report details an that a hammer was found near the scene and that "Austin told police he was being menaced with a hammer by Seaman, who he claimed jumped in front of his SUV."

Police called it a “complex investigation” in a Facebook post in April.

Oregon football coach Dan Lanning addressed the fatal crash during Oregon football's spring practices.

“I have no updates right now,” Lanning said. “I know Daylen’s character and I think there are a lot of details that will continue to play out. Beyond that, I’m not going to speak on it any more than that.”

Austin is accused of failing to perform the duties of a driver when another person is injured, which is a felony.

As an Oregon football freshman in 2023, Austin appeared in three games and utilized a redshirt. A consensus four-star recruit, he was ESPN's No. 11 player in California. Austin led Long Beach Poly to a 10-1 record in his senior season, including a five-game stretch of consecutive shutouts. Austin earned All-American honors and was named the Moore League Player of the Year. He finished 2022 with 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions, including two pick-sixes and 14 pass deflections.

Austin is slated to appear in court on May 22. This is a developing story.

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.

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