NFL Player From Atlanta Killed In Drunk-Driving Crash

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Edwin Jackson, a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts who was from Atlanta and played college football at Georgia Southern University, was one of two people killed in a Sunday morning car crash in Indiana, authorities said.

Indiana State Police say a drunken driver barreled into a car that Jackson, 26, was standing next to on the emergency shoulder of Interstate 7o. According to troopers, Jackson was riding with Jeffrey Monroe, 54, a ride-hailing service driver who pulled over at about 4 a.m. when his passenger became sick.

A preliminary investigation found that both men were standing outside the car when a black Ford F-150 pickup truck smashed into the rear of the car and hit both of them. One of the men was thrown into the center lane and was subsequently hit by a state trooper who was driving in the area, according to the state patrol.

A vehicle in front of the trooper had made an "evasive maneuver to the left" and the trooper spotted the wreckage along the right side of the road. He activated his lights and slowed down, but ended up running over the body in the center lane.

The driver of the pick-up truck initially took off on foot but was apprehended shortly thereafter on the ramp to Holt Road. He identified himself as Alex Cabrera Gonsales, 37, of Indianapolis. Gonsales was taken to the Marion County Jail and the result of an intoxication test is pending.

An inside linebacker, Jackson was a standout at Westlake High School in Atlanta who played for Georgia Southern from 2011-14, leading the team in tackles his junior and senior years. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, then moved to the Colts' practice squad after being released.

He was placed on injured reserve by the Colts in September.

"To learn of the news of the untimely passing of a former Eagle causes great sadness and hurt," Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford said in a statement released Sunday by the university. "Edwin Jackson represented not only Georgia Southern, but also how a young man should live his life.

"He earned everything that he was given and has left this world way too soon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, loved ones and teammates. He will be missed."

Colts owner Jim Irsay echoed those sentiments on Twitter.

"Our hearts and prayers are with Edwin Jackson’s family," Irsay wrote. "Terrific young man, respected and liked by all. Rest In Peace, Edwin."

Patch's Daniel Hampton contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Associated Press