A Texas community is in mourning after a popular high school football coach died at age 28 after a two-car crash last Friday.
Leyton Hernandez, a coach at Veterans Memorial High School in Temple, was traveling outside the Coastal Bend region when the accident happened on Friday afternoon.
According to KCEN TV in Texas, police believe that Hernandez ran the stop sign and collided with the other vehicle on North General Bruce Drive and Hart Road, causing his car to roll over at the intersection.
He was then rushed to hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. Another individual involved in the accident was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Authorities say that they are still investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Tributes have poured in for Hernandez, who was well known as a coach but also played at college level with Texas A&M Kingsville as a tight end.
Popular high school football coach Leyton Hernandez has died after a car accident at age 28
Tributes have poured in for the coach after the accident which occured on Friday afternoon
Hernandez pictured with his father, Roland – Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent
‘The VMHS community is heartbroken as we mourn the tragic loss of our beloved teacher and coach, Leyton Hernandez.
‘He made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and community, and he will be deeply missed,’ his school said in a statement.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to his father and mother, Dr. Roland Hernandez and Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, and to his sister, Mrs. Lauren Stinson, during this unimaginable time. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.’
The school added that it had made counselors available to staff and students as of Monday.
Hernandez had been working at the school for five years and was also a teacher and multi-sport coach. His father Roland is also Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent.
Tributes to Hernandez poured in on the school’s social media as news of his passing emerged.
‘He as a great coach who was loved by all his students. Condolences to the family,’ one person wrote.
Another said: ‘Leyton was such a shining star that truly loved with working with the students.’
