Man Sentenced in Killing of Former Georgia Southern Football Alum, Driver

The man responsible for driving drunk and killing former Georgia Southern football player Edwin Jackson and his driver has been handed his prison sentence.

Manuel Orrego-Savala, the 37-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was given a 16-year sentence after he pleaded guilty. He pleaded guilty in July to two counts of causing death of another person when operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or more.

Orrego-Savala had previously twice been deported from the United States – once in 2007 and once in 2009 – before his accident with Jackson, who played for the Indiana Colts at the time. 54-year-old Jeffrey Monroe, who was driving Jackson at the time of the accident, was also killed in February of this year.

According to law enforcement officials, Monroe was driving Jackson as part of a ride-share program. “Monroe pulled over on the side of the road at one point to aid Jackson, who had become sick in the car. That’s when investigators say the illegal alien crashed into the car, killing both Monroe and Jackson,” Breitbart reported.

The Indianapolis Colts are set to honor Jackson during the team’s home game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. According to the Indy Star, “Players will wear an “EJ” helmet decal while coaches and staff will don an “EJ” lapel pin, and before the game the Colts will present Jackson’s family with a $25,000 donation to the Edwin Jackson 53 Foundation.”