A heartbreaking loss has shaken the Cal State Fullerton (California) community after standout soccer player Lauren Turner died nearly six weeks after a devastating accident left her in a coma.
Turner, 19, a sophomore and beloved member of the Titans women’s soccer team, passed away on November 7 following severe injuries she sustained when a box truck struck her and her teammate while they were riding electric scooters near campus on September 27.
“Early this morning, our sweet Lauren fell asleep in the Lord. Our hearts are broken, and our family is forever changed,” Turner’s family wrote in a GoFundMe update. “We will miss her beyond measure, yet we take comfort knowing she is now in the loving embrace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Loved ones remembered Lauren as a bright light — joyful, funny, and full of heart. “She was funny, full of life, and had a gift for making people laugh and feel at ease,” her family wrote. “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.”
According to the Fullerton Police Department, Turner and teammate Ashlyn Gwynn were heading to a men’s soccer game around 7 p.m. when they were hit by a Ford Econoline box truck traveling in the same lane on Associated Road, just north of campus. Police said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash. The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. No arrests have been made.
Turner suffered severe head trauma and was placed in the ICU, where she remained for weeks before succumbing to her injuries. Gwynn was also seriously hurt and hospitalized in intensive care before being moved to a step-down unit in late October, according to her family.
Originally from Tustin, California, Turner had an impressive career at Cal State Fullerton. She played in all 20 matches her freshman year, scoring one goal and one assist, and appeared in 10 games this season before the crash.
Her teammates described her as “the funniest, most charismatic, and loving teammate you could ever ask for,” adding that she was “the first to celebrate other people’s wins” and “the true definition of an amazing person.”
“The impact she made on the Titans women’s soccer program is immeasurable,” the team said. “She will be dearly missed by everyone but forever remembered by her Titan family. We love you, Lauren — our No. 5 forever.”
Throughout the season, the women’s team honored Turner and Gwynn by wearing custom armbands with their initials and jersey numbers: “LT5-AG7.”
A candlelight vigil for Lauren Turner will be held Wednesday evening at Cal State Fullerton’s on-campus soccer stadium.
The Titans went on to finish their season with a strong showing, earning the third seed in the Big West Conference tournament before falling to Cal Poly in the semifinals — a performance the team says they dedicated to their teammate, No. 5.
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