University of Oregon football player Daylen Austin was arrested for connection to a fatal hit and run.

Question

The claim that University of Oregon football player Daylen Austin was arrested for being involved in a fatal hit and run on April 15th is a true claim. ESPN reported on April 17th that Austin had been arrested by Eugene Police Department for a class C felony, and was being held in Lane County Jail. Sports Illustrated reported that Frank William Seaman was the man that had been killed during the hit and run. Adding details that Seaman had been seen harassing Austin previous to the hit and run, throwing baseball sized objects at Austin's vehicle. When circling back around to see what had hit his vehicle Austin encountered Seaman. Austin then claims that Seaman had been menacing him with a hammer threatening his safety, later found with Seaman's fingerprints. Austin is now on trial in Lane county before a Grand Jury, the trial has been continuously delayed as the investigation has been very unclear as to all of the details that occurred on the night of April 15th (Oregonian). According to the Register-Guard Austin was initially charged with failure to perform duties of a driver to seriously injured person. 

Answer 1

This claim is accurate. Austin was arrested last year and charged with a class B felony; failing to perform the duties of a driver when another person is injured. He is accused of hitting and killing Frank William Seaman, a homeless man, near the intersection of West Fourth Ave and Polk Street, per The Orgonian's report. Kezi News stated that Austin was released from jail last April under the conditions that he could not leave Oregon without notifying the court, he can't use or be associated with someone using/selling illegal drugs, and many others. As stated on Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Austin's motion for dismissal was denied by the court on August 5.

Answer 2

The claim that Daylen Austin was arrested for connection to a hit and run is true. According to The Oregonian, the incident occurred on April 15th, 2025. Austin pleaded not guilty to failing to perform duties of a driver to an injured person. This charge could result in up to ten-years in prison, though it is dependent on if Austin has any prior charges against him. 46 year-old Frank William Seaman had been seen throwing "baseball-sized" objects at Austin's car 15 minutes prior to the hit and run incident. Lookout Eugene states Seaman was making threats to kill Austin, and ultimately jumped in front of his (Austin's) vehicle. No intoxicants were found after analyzing Austin's blood. Seaman tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine in his autopsy. 

Answer 3

This claim that Daylen Austin was arrested for a fatal hit-and-run is true and accurate. Mr Austin was charged with a felony hit and run on April 15th in Eugene, Oregon. Austin was traveling in a white SUV when he struck Frank William Seaman. In this article, written by James Crepau and Oregon Live states this “A Lane County grand jury formally indicted Austin on Thursday on the sole charge for which he was arrested and accused: failing to perform the duties of a driver when another person is injured, a Class B felony.” 

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/01/oregon-football-defensive-back-daylen-austin-indicted-for-fatal-hit-and-run.html

A secondary source is an article by Alec Deitz of the Registrar Guard that supports this claim. Mr Dietz says “Oregon football cornerback Daylen Austin, 19, was arraigned April 17 at the Lane County Jail on charges of failing to perform the duties of a driver in connection with a Monday fatal hit-and-run in Eugene. According to Eugene Police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin, the incident happened around 9:10 p.m. that Monday at West 4th Avenue and Polk Street. Police on May 8 identified the person killed as 46-year-old Frank William Seaman after his family was notified. Austin was arraigned at the jail in April and was charged with failure to perform duties of a driver to seriously injured persons”

https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/04/17/oregon-ducks-football-player-fatal-hit-and-run-eugene/73351150007/

Answer 4

This claim that Daylen Austin was arrested for a fatal hit-and-run is true and accurate. Mr Austin was charged with a felony hit and run on April 15th in Eugene, Oregon. Austin was traveling in a white SUV when he struck Frank William Seaman. In this article, written by James Crepau and Oregon Live states this “A Lane County grand jury formally indicted Austin on Thursday on the sole charge for which he was arrested and accused: failing to perform the duties of a driver when another person is injured, a Class B felony.” 

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/01/oregon-football-defensive-back-daylen-austin-indicted-for-fatal-hit-and-run.html

A secondary source is an article by Alec Deitz of the Registrar Guard that supports this claim. Mr Dietz says “Oregon football cornerback Daylen Austin, 19, was arraigned April 17 at the Lane County Jail on charges of failing to perform the duties of a driver in connection with a Monday fatal hit-and-run in Eugene. According to Eugene Police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin, the incident happened around 9:10 p.m. that Monday at West 4th Avenue and Polk Street. Police on May 8 identified the person killed as 46-year-old Frank William Seaman after his family was notified. Austin was arraigned at the jail in April and was charged with failure to perform duties of a driver to seriously injured persons”

https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/04/17/oregon-ducks-football-player-fatal-hit-and-run-eugene/73351150007/

Answer 5

This claim is in fact true. One year ago, Daylen Austin was a connection to a hit and run incident on April 15th according to the Eugene Police Department in the ESPN online article. Around 9pm, a 46 year old man (Frank William Seaman) was struck and killed roughly 2 miles from University of Oregon campus. Austin was than put into Lane County Jail as of Wednesday, April 16th, a day before this article was released. To follow up, according to the Register Guard, the original trial planned date was originally scheduled for February 19th, 2025, but the Lane County Circuit Court granted the motion of postponing the trial to August 14th of 2025 9the following year). Frank William Seaman than died after following up with the incident. In recent news, in Lookout Eugene-Springfield's article, the author reported that; “Austin has pleaded not guilty to charge of failing to perform the duties of a driver to an injured person. The maximum sentence for the Class B felony is 10 years in prison, though the actual sentence depends greatly on a person’s criminal conviction history.” Daylen Austin’s attorney filed a motion claiming the pedestrian was described as waving a hammer in a harmful manner, and threatening to kill Austin whilst jumping in front of the car driven by Daylen. In the most recent update on Oregon Live, the Judge has denied the motion to dismiss indictment of Daylen Austin. There hasn’t been a new trial date set to follow up this incident, but for now, he’s back as a football player defensive back for UO this season until further notice or things change.