Phillip Lutzenkirchen, a member of Auburn's 2010 national championship-winning team, and one of the most popular Auburn players in recent history, died Sunday morning in a car accident. The news was first reported by Auburn Undercover.
"On the field, Philip was a great player and competitor, but more importantly, he was a great teammate and friend off the field," said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with Philip’s parents, Mike and Mary, and all of his family and friends who are grieving his passing. This is a sad day for the entire Auburn family. I find peace knowing that even though Philip was taken from us too soon, that he lived his life to the fullest, leaving a lifetime of great memories for his family and friends to cherish forever."
The car accident occurred outside LaGrange, Georgia at approximately 3:06 a.m. Sunday morning. B.N. Talley, the officer who responded to the scene, told the Ledger Enquirer that a 2006 Chevy Tahoe missed a stop sign at a "t-intersection" before traveling off the intersection and into a churchyard. The car was "out of control for about 450 feet" before it overturned, ejecting all four passengers from the vehicle.
Talley said that Lutzenkirchen was killed at the scene, as was the car's driver, Joseph Davis.
Lutzenkirchen was 23 years old.
