On Thursday, fellow students, friends, teachers, and the parents of Tom Cutinella, the football player from Shoreham-Wading River High School who died after a fatal on-field collision during a game on Wednesday, gathered in the field as they gave him a send-off.

Cutinella, the linebacker and the guard for his team, was hit at around 6 P.M. during the third quarter of the game between Shoreham-Wading River High School and John Glenn High School. Witnesses said that Cutinella was still able to get up after the collision, however, he collapsed moments later.

Like Us on Facebook

Officials who handled his case said that he was rushed to a Huntington hospital but died after undergoing a surgery in the intensive-care unit. 

The superintendent of the Shoreham-Wading River School District, Steven Cohen, said in a statement during a news conference on Thursday that what happened to Cutinella is the result of a "typical football play" but ended unfortunately as an accident.

However, the athletic director will still carry out an investigation into the death of the teenager, where both the fatal collision and the sports equipment used by players during the game will be probed into.  

Officials said that the cause of death is yet to be released but noted that it might be due to a head injury. No identification has been released regarding the player who hit Cutinella.

On Thursday evening, hundreds of Cutinella's teammate, co-students, teachers, and friends were on the field to mourn the loss. Players from his team were seen hugging each other where Cutinella collapsed and a temporary memorial was also set up in the area. 

As for his family, they are grieving in private and declined to comment on the situation. Sources reveal that a police car was seen parked outside the home of the Cutinella family but no other information has been released.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Cohen has yet to announce whether or not this football season will be canceled following the death of a member of the school.

According to reports, close to 12 high-school and college football players die annually due to hard hits, causing growing concerns in recent years over the rigorous nature of the sport.

TagsHard hits, football collision, Killed, Tom Cutinella, Shoreham-Wading River High School, Linebacker, John Glenn High School, Football, football death, sports death