University of Oregon football player arrested after deadly hit-and-run
EUGENE, Ore. (KPTV) – A University of Oregon football player has been charged with felony hit-and-run after a man was killed on Monday, April 15.
According to the Eugene Police Department, 19-year-old Daylen Amir Austin was arrested at 11:45 p.m. on April 15. The crash happened near West 4th Avenue and Polk Street.
The victim was a 46-year-old man, according to court records.
Austin is a sophomore who plays as a defensive back for the Ducks, according to the school’s website. He is from Long Beach, California.
Seth Lockard lives nearby, and said he heard a car driving fast around his house Monday night.
“It sounds like he was just doing circles for about 10-15 minutes, going really fast. You could kind of hear car exhaust,” Lockard said.
Austin allegedly hit and killed the man just feet from Lockard’s house.
“My wife heard a thump and that was real rough. She didn’t put it together. She thought maybe he hit a tree or something, then I heard a bunch of sirens. Then I went outside and saw the scene,” Lockard said. “All of these police cars and police tape and stuff. It was just really sad and I was very angry.”
The community has placed candles at the scene to remember the man.
“Just trying to piece it together,” Lockard said. “I’ve been talking to my wife a lot and just kind of checking in with each other because she saw what I saw. It’s not something you see on your front porch every day.”
Austin was arraigned in Lane County Court on Wednesday via video call from the county jail for the felony hit-and-run. He did not enter a plea at his appearance. His next court date will be May 22.
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