On a day that is supposed to be the most exciting one in American professional sports, a tragedy took place within the NFL community on Sunday when news surfaced that an Indianapolis Colts player has been killed.
Indiana State Police told the Indy Star that Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson was one of two men who were struck by a suspected drunk driver and killed alongside the highway early Sunday morning. The two men were reportedly standing near a stopped video alongside Interstate 70 when a black Ford truck drove onto the emergency shoulder and hit them both.
Police believe the man with Jackson, 54-year-old Jeffrey Monroe, was a ride sharing driver who had pulled to the side of the road to assist Jackson, who had become ill.
The driver of the truck, identified as 37-year-old Alex Cabrera Gonsales, reportedly tried to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended by police.
“It is believed Gonsales was intoxicated and was driving without a license,” Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said in a statement. “He was transported to the Marion County Jail, the result of the test for intoxication is pending.”
Jackson, who was undrafted out of Georgia Southern, was signed to the Colts roster in January 2016 after he had been on the practice squad since December 2015. He was placed on injured reserve this season in September. Jackson was 26.
