Athlete’s drinking
and driving shocks kin

John Siofele was held in high
esteem by teachers and peers,
a St. Louis official says

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By Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@starbulletin.com

John Siofele's parents told him to never drink and drive, his sister said.

The St. Louis School football star's apparent disregard for that advice cost him his life. Investigators said he was drunk when his car crossed the center line on Farrington Highway and crashed into a city bus early Monday morning.

"My parents had talked to us all about alcohol. (They) told us never to drink and drive and that if you are going to a party, to party safely," said his older sister, Monalisa Siofele.

Family members of John Siofele were shocked to find out he had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit, she said.

"It is not something that he does. It goes against all of his values. He's not that type of person," Monalisa said.

The 18-year-old athlete, who had a full football scholarship to the University of Hawaii, was returning home early Monday from a party for a friend going away to a mainland college.

John Siofele had a 0.142 percent blood alcohol level -- nearly twice the legal limit -- and may have been speeding when he collided with the bus, according to police traffic investigators and a report by the city Medical Examiner's Office.

The 51-year-old driver of the empty bus was not hurt.

St. Louis Campus Ministry Director Christopher Casupang said Siofele was a responsible youth who was held in high esteem by teachers and coaches and respected by his peers.

Casupang said Siofele was chosen to be a leader last week in a Christian retreat organized by the school because "of his nature, what he epitomizes."

"(He was) a great role model for the younger students," Casupang said.

Monalisa Siofele said she thinks her brother may have dozed at the wheel of his Volkswagen Jetta, causing him to veer into oncoming traffic.

"As humans we get tired," she said. "He had to be taken from us, (and) we know he's in a better place. We have faith.

"This is a lesson to be learned for a lot of his classmates and friends. Life is short and you need to be prepared. John is now resting in God's hands. We only pray that this is a lesson for us all. Through his death, others will take precautions and learn from this tragedy," she said.

Services for Siofele will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Aiea United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.