Colts owner Jim Irsay paying for funerals of Edwin Jackson, Uber driver
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INDIANAPOLIS - Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, will reportedly pay for the funeral expenses of linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver Jeffrey Monroe who were both killed in a drunk-driving crash Sunday morning.
FOX 59 in Indianapolis reported that owner and CEO Jim Irsay would pay both funerals' costs.
"Edwin was loved by all in the Colts organization. We admired his outgoing personality, competitive spirit and hard-working mentality," The Colts said in a previous statement. "He was well-respected among all with whom he crossed paths, and he will be greatly missed in our locker room and throughout our entire organization.
Police believe that Monroe was transporting Jackson when Jackson became ill. Monroe pulled over to the side of the highway and got out to help Jackson when both were struck by a pickup truck that also hit Monroe's car, police said.
The man suspected of causing the collision Sunday has twice been deported from the U.S., and had a 2005 conviction for driving under the influence in California, authorities said.
Manuel Orrego-Savala, 37, remained jailed Tuesday but had not been formally charged in Sunday's crash along Interstate 70 in Indianapolis. Prosecutors said they were working with police on the investigation.
A breath test administered at the crash scene found that Orrego-Savala's blood-alcohol content was almost 0.24 percent, or nearly three times Indiana's legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to an affidavit.
The affidavit said Orrego-Savala has had prior run-ins with law enforcement for driving without a valid license and that he was walking away from the crash scene when an Indiana state trooper detained him.
The suspect appeared Tuesday before a judge who advised him of his rights. Indianapolis television station WRTV reported that Orrego-Savala told the judge through an interpreter: "I wasn't driving the car. I don't know why I am here." Another court hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
The Guatemala citizen, who gave officers a fake name when he was arrested, was deported in 2007 and 2009, and was again living illegally in the U.S., police said.
Orrego-Savala's DUI conviction was in Redwood City, California, and he has numerous other misdemeanor convictions and arrests in California and Indiana, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Nicole Alberico.
Jackson, who grew up in Atlanta, started eight games for the Colts during the 2016 season, finishing third on the team with 61 tackles. He was considered a possible starter at inside linebacker for the 2017 but missed the season after suffering an injury during training camp.
The 6-foot, 234-pound athlete previously played for the Arizona Cardinals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.