Philip Lutzenkirchen News 2014: Ex-NFL Player Dies in Car Crash

A one-car crash in Georgia on Sunday marked the end of former Auburn's tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen's life. The ex-NFL player was a crowd favorite when he was part of the 2010 national championship team.

The 23-year-old player, according to authorities, was thrown out from the passenger seat of a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe when it accidentally overturned a few times near LaGrange.

According to a Bleacher Report article,  Lutzenkirchen was among four passengers in the vehicle which hit and traveled through a stop sign and into a churchyard before flipping and throwing out three of the four occupants.

"It happened at the intersection of Upper Big Springs Road and Lower Big Springs Road. They were out of control for about 450 feet," B.N. Talley of the Georgia State Patrol was quoted as saying.

Bleacher Report added that the authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash but said that the police found out that Lutzenkirchen was not wearing his seatbelt during the accident. It was also noted that a certain Joseph Davis was driving the car which was also carrying 22-year-old Elizabeth Ann Seaton Craig and 20-year-old Christian Tanner Case. The injured were immediately taken to the West Georgia Medical Center for treatment. The cause of the accident, however, is still being investigated by the authorities who noted that they are determining whether alcohol intoxication was a factor in the incident.

Lutzenkirchen, according to Yahoo Sports, was described by Auburn coach Gus Malzahn as ''a great player and competitor'' and ''a great teammate and friend off the field.''

Malzahn told Yahoo Sports in an interview that losing the former player is a sad day for the Auburn family. ''I find peace knowing that even though Philip was taken from us too soon, that he lived his life to the fullest, leaving a lifetime of great memories for his family and friends to cherish forever,'' he added.

The player is known for his tight end career with 14 touchdown catches and seven during his 2011 stint, Yahoo Sports reported. Lutzenkirchen had to undergo a hip surgery in 2012 which also marked the end of his NFL career.

On Twitter, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said that the Auburn family is "broken" with the loss of a great man. ''Crushed and without words" was how he described their feeling.

His teammate, Kodi Burns, on the other hand, posted on Twitter: ''Lutz was a brother to me and my other brothers. I loved him. And I will miss him. One of the greatest men I will ever know. RIP love you man.''

Lutzenkirchen was a graduate of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia.