Colts LB Edwin Jackson, 26, Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver; Tributes Pour In

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson was killed Sunday morning by a suspected drunk driver, the team confirmed just hours before Super Bowl.  He was 26.

Edwin Jackson death news

According to several reports, the driver of the truck that killed both Jackson and 54-year-old ride-share driver Jeffrey Monroe is an illegal immigrant who does not own a driver’s license. The driver had reportedly been using the alias Alex Cabrera Gonsales, the police said in a release. Gonsales’ given name is Manuel Orrego-Savala, and he is a 37-year-old citizen of Guatemala.

Jackson and Monroe were stopped outside their Lincoln 2018 on the shoulder of Interstate 70 in Indiana around 4 am on Sunday when a Ford F-150 pickup truck rammed into the pair, killing them both.

Orrego-Savala is currently being held in the Marion County (Indiana) jail while the police work with U.S. federal immigration officials and the toxicology report results are released.

“We were heartbroken to hear the news of Edwin Jackson’s passing,” the Colts said in a statement. “Edwin was loved by all in the Colts organization. We admired his outgoing personality, competitive spirit and hard-working mentality. He was well-respected among all with whom he crossed paths, and he will be greatly missed in our locker room and throughout our entire organization.”

The statement continued: “We also understand that another person lost his life in the accident, only adding to our sorrow on this day. We are shocked and saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of both men during this difficult time.”

Jackson signed to the Colts practice squad in December 2015, and was placed on injured reserve in September 2017.

Dozens of NFL stars, including former Colts punter Pat McAFee and team owner Jim Irsay paid tribute to the linebacker on social media.