The Austin Gilgronis rugby team is mourning the loss of former forwards coach and player Pedrie Wannenburg, according to a statement the club posted on Facebook.
Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported that the 41-year-old Wannenburg perished in a fatal crash that occurred during a police chase in Houston on Friday (April 22). Authorities allegedly pursued a fleeing teen motorist.
"We are sanded on the passing of former forwards coach and player Pedrie Wannenburg," Austin Gilgronis said in the statement. "Our thoughts are with Evette, Isabel, Francois and the rest of the Wannenburg family in these most trying of times."
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that Wannenburg, whose career spanned three continents, was traveling with two young passengers, one of them being his 8-year-old son, Francois.
The boy and his father were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where the former remains in critical condition, per KXAN.
According to Austin FOX affiliate KTBC, the other child in Wannenburg's vehicle, an unidentified 10-year-old girl, didn't sustain any injuries.
KTBC reported that the 16-year-old driver faces charges of felony murder, reckless aggravated assault-serious bodily injury and three counts of aggravated assault-bodily injury.
Born in what is now Mbombela, South Africa in 1981, Wannenburg first saw action as a rugby player for the Blue Bulls in 2001.
Six years later, he helped guide his native country to its second Rugby World Cup triumph.
He continued his career in Europe before joining his first American club in the Denver Stampede in 2016.
He concluded his playing days with Austin Gilgronis more than four years ago when the team was then known as the Austin Elite.
"Pedrie was an incredible player having played for the Springboks and moved to the USA to grow the game of rugby, where he played and coached Austin Elite Rugby," Austin Gilgronis said in its release.
According to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK, the Rice Rugby Club created a GoFundMe page to assist Wannenburg's family with funeral costs.