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News / Sports / National Sports

Wife of Utah football player dies in car accident

The Columbian
Published: September 2, 2011, 12:00am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Team officials say the wife of a Utah football player was killed in a car accident about 90 minutes after the Utes’ game against Montana State.

The team released a statement saying Janelle Tongaonevai (tong-a-oh-nay-vy) died about 10:30 p.m. Thursday in West Valley City after Utah beat Montana State, 27-10.

Ron Tongaonevai is a junior defensive lineman from West Valley City. The couple was married in the summer of 2010.

The team is planning to go ahead with postgame meetings Friday but says no players or coaches will be available to the media out of respect for the Tongaonevai family.

A team tribute and funeral plans are in the works and will be announced later.

Coach Kyle Whittingham says in a statement that everyone’s thoughts and prayers are with the family.

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