BYU Football Offensive Lineman Sione Veikoso Dies In Accident
Dec 30, 2022, 11:37 PM
BYU football OL Sione Veikoso died unexpectedly in Hawaii. He was 22 years old. (Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
(Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football offensive lineman Sione Veikoso has tragically passed away. He was 22 years old.
Veikoso was involved in an accident in his hometown of Kailua, Hawaii, during the holiday break. The accident was a construction job that saw a retaining wall collapse. Veikoso was the only person in the accident that has passed away. Three others were seriously injured, according to reports.
Sione Veikoso passed away in Hawaii
On behalf of the entire BYU Football family, our thoughts and prayers are with Sione's family and friends during this extremely difficult time.
Rest in Love Sione. God be with you till we meet again. pic.twitter.com/Bn0oW4kylY
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 31, 2022
BYU football issued a statement late Friday night.
“On behalf of the entire BYU football family, our thoughts and prayers are with Sione’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time. Rest in Love Sione. God be with you till we meet again.”
Kalani Sitake on the passing of Veikoso
BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake also tweeted his heartfelt condolences.
“We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso. His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione!”
We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso. His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione! https://t.co/F2xSEynQpM
— Kalani F Sitake (@kalanifsitake) December 31, 2022
Veikoso was part of the BYU football program for one year in 2022. He transferred to BYU from Arizona State. Veikoso was consistently on BYU’s travel roster and was in the two-deep at the end of the season. He was projected to potentially be a starting offensive lineman for the Cougars in 2023.
Veikoso was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission for the Church in Manaus, Brazil.
Veikoso graduated from Kailua High School in Hawaii in 2018.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU moving to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
