A 24-year-old Brazilian soccer player was killed in a shocking incident in Florida.
Official reports stated that Yuri dos Santos Vasconcelos was fatally struck by an SUV that ploughed into his Lakeland, Florida home at approximately 4 p.m. on June 19.
The local authorities recounted how the driver of the 2016 Dodge Durango failed to halt at a stop sign, rammed into two signposts, and eventually crashed into the house. Vasconcelos, who was in the kitchen during the incident, succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Neither the driver nor the passenger in the SUV, nor the other two occupants of the house were injured. The police are yet to reveal if charges will be filed against the driver.
Vasconcelos, who hailed from Palmeira dos Indios in Brazil’s Alagoas state, had been residing in the United States since 2021. He commenced his soccer career with Eastern Oklahoma State College and later transferred to Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama in January 2023. Vasconcelos was representing Lakeland United FC’s summer league team when he met with the fatal accident.
Lakeland United FC’s soccer director, Tauan Salgado, lauded Vasconcelos’s commitment, ethical approach, and passion for soccer. He emphasized that Vasconcelos’s dedication and team-first attitude made him an invaluable asset to the team, particularly in the defensive line. Faulkner University’s men’s soccer head coach, Gabriel de Queiroz, acknowledged Vasconcelos’s maturity and determination.
Lakeland United FC plans to conduct a tribute event in Vasconcelos’s honor during their game in Naples on June 27, hoping that his legacy will continue to inspire others.
