An incoming freshman at the University of Southern California was fatally struck by two cars as he walked along a local freeway — days before classes were set to start for the fall semester.
Matthew Olson, 18, was walking south on the 110 Freeway near campus early Saturday when two cars hit him, the California Highway Patrol said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The teen was wandering between two FasTrak lanes around 2:45 a.m. when a car on his right side struck him, causing him to fall into another lane — where a second car rammed into him and did not stop, authorities said.
The first driver came to his aid, but it was too late — paramedics pronounced Olson dead at the scene.
Authorities are continuing to probe the circumstances of the accident.
“It is unknown at this time why [Olson] was walking in the freeway lanes,” the highway patrol said in a press release obtained by the paper.
Move-in day at USC was scheduled for Wednesday, and Olson would have been a business student.
“Our heartfelt condolences are with Matt’s parents, family and friends as they mourn this terrible loss,” the university said in a press release, also obtained by the Times.
Earlier in his academic career, Olson attended Corona del Mar High School, where he played on the basketball and volleyball teams — and last year earned the Coach’s Award for Hardest Working Player.
“This is an unbelievably tragic situation that the family and our community is faced with,” Corona del Mar principal Kathy Scott said in a statement. “We understand that a loss like this can be traumatic and that everyone grieves differently. We have supports and resources available to staff and students who may be affected by this tragedy.”
The Southern California Volleyball Association posted a video tribute to Olson, along with heartfelt tributes from his coaches.
“Matt Olson was the heart and soul of the team,” Matt Marrujo said. “It is impossible to measure the impact he had on his teammates. He was an incredible young man that lived his life to the fullest. Matt was the type of player that made me a better coach and person.”