Texas A&M officials: Defensive lineman Polo Manukainiu dies in car crash in NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Texas A&M officials say freshman defensive lineman Polo Manukainiu (mah-NEW-ky-a-new) has died in a rollover crash in New Mexico during a trip home from Utah.

New Mexico State Police say Gaius Vaenuku, an incoming member of the Utah football team, also died after the wreck.

Manukainiu was a 19-year-old redshirt freshman.

The wreck occurred on U.S. 550 just north of Cuba.

State Police say Manukainiu and Vaenuku were passengers in a 2002 Toyota Sequoia travelling southbound on the highway. The vehicle drifted off of the road, the driver overcorrected, and the vehicle rolled several times.

Manukainiu and another passenger, Andrew Uhatafe, were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Vaenuku was transported from the scene but was pronounced dead in the ambulance.

The driver and a fifth passenger were transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Officials say alcohol wasn’t involved.

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Information from: KRQE-TV, http://www.krqe.com

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