Eugene A man who fit the victim’s description—46-year-old Frank William Seaman, according to police—threw a baseball-sized object at a white SUV that matched the description of Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin’s car fifteen minutes prior to Austin’s alleged strike and death of a pedestrian in Eugene last month.
The Oregonian/OregonLive examined surveillance camera footage from the evening of April 15 that shows the westbound SUV instantly slowing down. Then, a guy who was thought to be Seaman crossed to the north side of West Sixth Avenue, gesturing and seemingly shouting at passing cars.
According to Eugene police, Seaman was killed on April 15 just after 9 p.m. in the Whiteaker neighborhood near the intersection of West Fourth Avenue and Polk Street. Austin is charged with the felony of not carrying out the responsibilities of a motorist when someone else is hurt.
A person who was aware of the situation gave According to law enforcement papers obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, when officers got on the scene, they discovered a blue shopping bag with additional hand tools and a hammer on the street close to Seaman. Because of the current inquiry, the source asked to remain anonymous.
According to one law enforcement version, Austin also informed authorities that Seaman was threatening him with a hammer after he allegedly leaped in front of his SUV.
Seaman, who was classified as homeless by the police, was convicted of driving while intoxicated several times between 1997 and 2010, when he was found guilty of first-degree burglary. He was given a five-year probationary term in 2022 after entering a guilty plea to theft from Safeway, Walmart, and a liquor store in Lincoln County.
According to court records, Seaman’s criminal history began in 1995 and includes more than 30 cases in seven different counties throughout the state. Since December 2019, he has also been charged with 47 crimes in Eugene, according to municipal court records.
The Oregonian/OregonLive called the Lane County Deputy District Attorney, Nicholas Geil, who is prosecuting Austin, but he did not answer.
Austin, 19, was taken into custody on April 15 and charged with a single count on April 17. Austin was given conditional release without entering a plea, which forbids him from leaving the state without authorization, making offensive contact with anyone, or acquiring or possessing any firearms, alcohol, or marijuana. On May 22, a pre-trial conference is planned.
Austin’s lawyer, Bryan Boender, chose not to comment.
After the incident, the sophomore skipped all seven of Oregon’s spring practices, including the April 27 spring game.
When asked about Austin’s standing with the program on April 21, Oregon coach Dan Lanning stated, “I know Daylen’s character and I think there’s a lot of details that will continue to play out.”
Latest Ducks news
-
TJ Bamba tallies 21 as Oregon men s basketball tops Washington
-
Where they re ranking Oregon football entering 2025, Ducks betting odds for next season
-
Oregon s Dante Moore ranked in Top 10 for 2025 Heisman odds
COVERAGE OF MORE DUCKS
-
|
Newsletter
|
Facebook
|
YouTube
|
Podcast
-
Support local journalism with asubscription to OregonLive
-
Contact James Crepea at
