Cal State Fullerton Student Athlete Succumbs to Injuries Sustained in Electric Scooter Crash

Lauren Turner, a soccer player at the school, died on Nov. 7 at age 19 after she and a teammate were struck by a box truck.

The Cal State Fullerton Titans gather on the field ahead of a game in Los Angeles on Sept. 11, 2022. Katharine Lotze/Getty Images

Lauren Turner, a sophomore soccer player at Cal State Fullerton, has died at the age of 19, nearly two months after sustaining life-threatening injuries in an electric scooter accident.

The Cal State Fullerton Athletics Department said Turner died on Nov. 7 following an almost six-week stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) after she and a teammate were struck by a box truck while riding scooters off campus.

“Lauren was the funniest, most charismatic, and loving teammate you could ever ask for,” the Cal State Fullerton Titans soccer team wrote on Nov. 10.

“She was the first to celebrate other people’s wins. ... The true definition of an amazing person. She always carried herself with compassion, kindness, and happiness,” the team said.

“The impact she made on the Titans women’s soccer program is immeasurable. She will be dearly missed by everyone but forever remembered by her Titan family. We love you Lauren, our No. 5 Forever.”

According to the Fullerton Police Department, Turner and teammate Ashlyn Gwynn were en route to a men’s soccer match on Sept. 27 when they were hit by the vehicle at around 7 p.m. near Associated Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard in Fullerton, California.

Both were hospitalized for “significant, life threatening injuries.” According to the OC Register, they were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident. At the time, authorities said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors in the collision, and in an email to The Epoch Times, said an investigation into the incident remains “active and ongoing.”

In a GoFundMe campaign, Turner’s family said the student athlete was battling severe head trauma and, as of Oct. 6, both Turner and Gwynn remained in the ICU.

“Our hearts are broken, and our family is forever changed,” said Turner’s family in a recent update since her death.

“We will miss her beyond measure, yet we take great comfort in knowing she is now in the loving embrace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Lauren approached everything she did with heart and joy. She was funny, full of life, and had a gift for making people laugh and feel at ease. Her laughter was a reflection of the joy God placed in her heart. As a dedicated soccer player, she was known for her encouragement, determination, and the way she lifted up those around her.”

Gwynn has since been moved to a “Step Down” unit, where she will continue to be monitored. As part of her recovery, she will undergo daily scheduled occupational and physical therapy, along with swallow and speech therapy.

In response to the accident, Titans head coach Demian Brown told the OC Resister he hopes to implement a new rule requiring his athletes to wear helmets when riding scooters or bikes. Other women’s soccer team coaches have also followed suit as Brown looks to spread awareness on the matter.

In honor of Turner, the Titans women’s soccer team and Athletics department hosted a candlelight vigil on Nov. 12 at the school stadium.

A Tustin, California, native, Turner played in 10 games this season and was part of the starting lineup during eight of those matches. She helped the team earn its second win over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent by playing the full 90 minutes.

Turner is survived by her parents, Christopher and Christine, and her sisters, Nicolette and Victoria.