A former Eastlake High School soccer player died after he was speeding and crashed into the back of a semitruck in far East El Paso, authorities said.
Fernando Aria Jr., 29, of El Paso, was driving a white Kia car at a high rate of speed about 1:40 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, on Interstate 10 East near Eastlake Boulevard, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras said in a news release.
Aria failed to control his speed and crashed into the rear of a semitruck, the news release states. He suffered severe injuries in the wreck. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The crash remains under investigation by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Traffic Investigators unit.
Eastlake High School boys soccer coach Gibby Widner said in a Facebook post that Aria was the inaugural team captain and left a lasting legacy at the high school.
“Coaching is filled with great moments and challenging times, both on and off the field,” Widner said in the post. “As I reflect on the early days of the Eastlake varsity program, I’m compelled to cherish the memory of our inaugural captain, Fernie Arias, whose leadership spirit played a pivotal role in shaping the traditions that continue to define us today.
“Though he has left us at such a young age of 29, his legacy soars. Thank you, Fernie, for the memories and always staying in touch even after your high school years. May you rest in peace, #7.”
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former Eastlake soccer player dies after crashing into semitruck
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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