The 56-year-old motorist who died in a head-on collision with a big rig near Lakeside was identified Wednesday as the brother of former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau.
Savaii Seau of El Cajon was heading north on Los Coches Road near Lakeview Road in the Glenview area Tuesday afternoon when his 2005 Audi A6 drifted into the path of a southbound Helix Water District dump truck being driven by a 60-year-old San Diego man, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Paramedics took Seau to a trauma center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, CHP public-affairs Officer Travis Garrow said.
The trucker and a 42-year-old woman who had been a passenger in the Audi were taken to hospitals for treatment of minor to moderately serious injuries.
The cause of the collision was under investigation.
Savaii Seau is the older brother of Junior Seau, Garrow told Fox5.
Junior Seau, an Oceanside native, played as a linebacker in the NFL for 20 seasons in a Hall of Fame career, including 13 with the San Diego Chargers from 1990 to 2002. He committed suicide in 2012, and his family later settled a lawsuit against the NFL alleging that his suicide was related to brain injuries suffered during Seau’s career.
Savaii Seau, 56, lived in El Cajon and was as a youth sports coach, trainer and artist, 10 News reports. He worked as an educator at Warren-Walker School in San Diego.
The school’s headmaster, Raymond J. Volker, issued this statement on Seau’s passing:
The hearts of the entire Warren-Walker School community are heavy as we have lost a great human being, teacher and friend today. A fatal car accident has claimed our beloved Coach Seau, who rained love on all of his students, was a bright light in our WWS family, and loved by all. His inspiration, support and incredibly unselfish spirit will be missed by his family as well, and to whom we extend our deepest condolences.
A man whose large physical presence was secondary to the size of his heart; a heart that was measured in the joy he brought to the students he touched each day in his physical education classes. To see him move his large frame in perfect rhythm to a favorite song, along with the youngest of his students, was a sight to behold. They along with students of all ages referred to him as ‘Coachee’ – not only an endearing address – but one filled with deep respect and love.
Savaii Seau will be missed, not just today, but for years to come. To have touched so many in such a positive way will not easily be forgotten.
He was three years old than his brother, Junior Seau, an NFL Hall of Famer who played 13 seasons with the Chargers from 1990-2002.
Junior Seau died of suicide in 2012; his family settled a lawsuit against the NFL after alleging that his suicide was related to traumatic brain injuries suffered during his football career. The Davis YMCA youth sports complex in La Mesa is named after Junior Seau.
City News Service and East County Magazine contributed to this report
