Tragedy has struck the Minnesota Vikings again. More specifically, it has hit home with another Vikings running back.
Just weeks after Adrian Peterson’s two-year old son died, the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah reports that Vikings running back Matt Asiata’s father, Pina Asiata, was killed instantly when the charter bus he was driving slammed into the back of a of big rig vehicle near the Utah-Nevada border on Monday.
Per the report, the crash “drove a large auger on the truck through the front of the bus and into the driver’s seat and Asiata.” He suffered “massive chest trauma.”
Details of the crash were provided by the Utah Highway Patrol.
Johnson said the construction vehicle had slowed in preparation to make a U-turn at a construction site-related median turnout when the bus, apparently unable to slow down in time, smashed into the truck at 5:39 p.m. Monday.
The collision sent both vehicles 300 feet down the road before they came to rest. None of the three workers on the truck was seriously injured.
The Vikings acknowledged the tragedy with a statement on Tuesday.
“We are aware of the tragic incident involving Matt’s father, Pita Asiata. This is heartbreaking news for Matt and his family. We are here to support the Asiata family in any way possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Asiata family.”
Matt Asiata, who was born in Utah and played college football at the University of Utah, is a 26-year-old backup running back for the Vikings. He’s played in six games for the Vikings this season, but has yet to touch the ball on offense.
Pita Asiata was 53-years-old.
