Soccer captain with ‘infectious smile’ killed in fiery crash, Oklahoma officials say
UPDATE (10/19): The driver of the SUV, Nicholas Robinson, was arrested and faces charges of murder, driving under the influence, speeding, and failing to stop, according to a news release from the Tulsa Police Department.
The original story is below.
The captain of a college men’s soccer team died when an accused drunk driver crashed into his car, according to Oklahoma police.
Eugene Quaynor was at a stop light just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 when an SUV rear-ended his car, pushing it through the intersection, the Tulsa Police Department said in a news release.
Quaynor’s car spun around, hit a wall and caught fire, police said. People nearby tried to help him get out — breaking the car’s windows with rocks — but the flames quickly engulfed the vehicle.
Officers reported arriving to find Quaynor dead and the SUV driver attempting to flee. Police said the SUV driver appeared to be “severely intoxicated.”
Oral Roberts University helped police contact the family of Quaynor, a 23-year-old from Accra, Ghana.
“Eugene was the epitome of the mission we strive for,” the university’s athletics department said in a statement on Sept. 29. “He was a leader on the field as a captain of the men’s soccer team and had a spirit-empowered heart ready to lead and impact the world for Jesus. His infectious smile will be missed.”
Quaynor previously played for the Phoenix Academy in Accra, Ghana, and the Flint City Bucks in Flint, Michigan, according to statements from both organizations. He had been playing defense for Oral Roberts University for the last four seasons.
Quaynor graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Cultural Studies, according to the statement from the Flint City Bucks. He returned to Oral Roberts University as a graduate student for a master’s degree and was “expected to major in sports management,”, per the athletics department.
“Eugene was a much-loved member of the Bucks’ team, as well as the Flint community,” the Flint City Bucks said in a statement. “In addition to being a true warrior on the pitch, he was always eager to do community service work, free youth clinics and charity events.”
In a Facebook post, Phoenix Academy mourned Quaynor’s death, saying “Eugene can brighten any room with his infectious smile, a very humble man who leads by example.. Words can’t explain how devastated we are.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Soccer captain with ‘infectious smile’ killed in fiery crash, Oklahoma officials say."
