BYU offensive lineman Sione Veikoso has died at the age of 22 after a tragic construction accident. The football team’s head coach, Kalani Sitake, confirmed his passing in a statement on social media.
“We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso,” Sitake wrote on Twitter. “His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione!”
The BYU football program also offered its condolences in a statement: “On behalf of the entire BYU Football family, our thoughts and prayers are with Sione’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time. Rest in Love Sione. God be with you till we meet again.”
The accident occurred in his hometown of Kailua, Hawai’i, on Friday. A total of six men were on the site when a 15-foot retaining rock wall collapsed and trapped three of them. After emergency personnel cleared the rubble, they pronounced Veikoso dead on the scene.
Veikoso began his collegiate career at Arizona State but transferred to BYU in the summer of 2022. While at BYU, he played in one game as a redshirt freshman.
Prior to college, Veikoso played for Kailua High School in Hawai’i before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manaus, Brazil, from 2018-20.
Check out the statement from Kalani Sitake below.
We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso. His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione! https://t.co/F2xSEynQpM
— Kalani F Sitake (@kalanifsitake) December 31, 2022
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