‘Modern Family’ star Sarah Hyland slams drunk driver who killed teenage cousin
Sarah Hyland is mourning the death of her 14-year-old cousin who was killed by a drunk driver in Nebraska.
The Omaha Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that Trevor Canaday died Saturday evening after another vehicle ran a red light and plowed into the car he was riding in with his father. Canaday was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries to his head.
Hyland’s uncle, Clifford Canaday, 59, who was behind the wheel during the crash, suffered serious head injuries and was transported to Nebraska Medicine, officers added in a press release.
“Yesterday my 14 year old cousin was killed by a drunk driver,” the “Modern Family” actress, 28, tweeted Sunday. “My Uncle is in the hospital awaiting more surgeries. PLEASE keep your prayers with my family during this horrific time.”
Authorities identified the driver as Jeffrey Eggeling, 36. Police said the suspect “fled on foot from the scene” following the collision.
“Eggeling was located on foot a short distance from the collision scene,” according to booking information obtained by USA TODAY. “Eggeling had the odor of alcoholic beverage about his person as well as slurred speech.”
The suspect was booked into Douglas County Corrections on two counts of DUI causing serious injury and a count of leaving the scene of a personal injury crash.
Hyland slammed Eggeling on Twitter, calling him “a murderer.”
“JEFFERY EGGERLING (sic) had two prior DUI’s and tried to RUN from the scene of the crime after hitting my Uncle’s car SO fast that my 14 yr old cousin, who was wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle,” she tweeted. “May he rot in hell.”
Hyland included a link to a GoFundMe page along with her message to raise money for funeral and hospital expenses for the Canaday family.
“Trevor and his dad were driving to a show choir event and were involved in a serious car accident due to a drunk driver,” the fundraising page reads.
The actress, best known for playing Haley Dunphy on the hit show “Modern Family,” thanked her co-stars Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould for donating to the campaign.
