Dee-Jay Tuiasosopo, 16, was struck on a sidewalk hours after playing for Federal Way High School.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Two drivers have been charged with vehicular homicide after a two-vehicle crash sent one vehicle onto a sidewalk and killed 16-year-old Federal Way High School student-athlete Dee-Jay Tuiasosopo, authorities and court records say.
Tuiasosopo, a junior who played football and wrestled at Federal Way High School, died at the scene of the Oct. 23 crash near Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street. The collision happened at about 10:45 p.m., only hours after he had played in a football game nearby. The case initially led to the arrest of one driver, but prosecutors have since filed vehicular homicide charges against both motorists as investigators examine how each driver’s actions contributed to the fatal collision.
According to court documents cited by local news outlets, Roberto Chris Emory, 29, was driving a Ford F-150 and attempting to turn left onto South 304th Street when the truck and an oncoming Lexus collided. Investigators allege the 20-year-old Lexus driver had moved into the carpool lane without signaling and was traveling at more than 85 mph in a 45 mph zone before the crash. Authorities say the Lexus went onto the sidewalk after the collision and struck Tuiasosopo, who had been standing there.
Police said both motorists remained at the scene. Investigators alleged that Emory showed signs of alcohol impairment, and court records cited by FOX 13 Seattle said officers reported smelling alcohol and finding empty beer containers near his truck. Records also state that a preliminary breath test registered 0.170%, more than twice Washington’s legal limit for most adult drivers. The test result and other allegations are part of the prosecution’s case and have not been established at trial.
King County prosecutors charged Emory with vehicular homicide based on allegations involving driving under the influence and disregard for the safety of others. Prosecutors also charged the 20-year-old Lexus driver with vehicular homicide. Emory remained jailed on $200,000 bail as of Wednesday. Authorities were seeking the arrest of the second driver, with prosecutors requesting a $200,000 warrant, according to the latest published account. The charges are allegations, and neither defendant has been found guilty.
The crash occurred about a block from where Tuiasosopo had played earlier that evening. Federal Way defeated White River 28-27 during the school’s senior night game. Tuiasosopo had transferred to Federal Way and was in his first season with the Eagles. Friends and teammates said he hoped to help the program reach the state championship and was beginning to establish himself in the school community through both football and wrestling.
His death brought students, relatives, teammates and coaches to a memorial near the crash site. Mourners left flowers, balloons, candles and signs, many carrying the No. 56 he wore for the football team. More than 100 people attended a vigil over the weekend, according to local reporting. His family said in a statement that his energy and presence had reached more people than they realized, and classmates remembered him for his humor, encouragement and enthusiasm.
Tuiasosopo also belonged to a family with long ties to athletics in Washington. His extended relatives include former NFL players Manu Tuiasosopo and Marques Tuiasosopo, former Major League Baseball player Matt Tuiasosopo and University of Washington women’s volleyball coach Leslie Gabriel. Relatives and friends, however, emphasized that the teenager was building an identity of his own through school, football and wrestling rather than simply following his family’s athletic history.
The investigation has developed since the first reports after the crash. Police initially announced the arrest of a 29-year-old driver suspected of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide. Later court filings provided additional details about the movements of both vehicles, and prosecutors ultimately charged both drivers. Those filings represent investigators’ and prosecutors’ accounts of the evidence; the facts will be subject to review through the court process.
Federal Way police and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office continue handling the criminal case. Further court proceedings will determine how the charges against the two drivers move forward. Federal Way High School, meanwhile, continues to mourn Tuiasosopo as his teammates and family remember the 16-year-old student-athlete whose death came only hours after he left the football field.
Author note: Last updated October 28, 2026.