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Riverside High School Junior Dies 5 Days After Collapsing During Football Scrimmage

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — An Arlington High School junior passed away Tuesday, five days after he collapsed during a football scrimmage.

Tyler Lewellen, 16, was hospitalized on Aug. 22 after he was injured during a practice game at Rubidoux High School, the Riverside Unified School District said.

The 11th grader was tackled during a play, got up, walked to the sidelines and collapsed.

Lewellen was taken to  Riverside Community Hospital and never regained consciousness.

"Tyler was a wonderful young man with a bright future ahead of him and everything to look forward to," stated Arlington Principal Antonio Garcia. "We are so saddened that he was suddenly taken from us. Arlington appreciates our community's support as we grieve the loss of one of our own."

Lewellen's cause of death was not released. It is still unclear if he had a medical condition, was he injured during a play or was the heat a factor?

The RUSD Crisis Response Team, which includes a team of school psychologists, was at Arlington High School Wednesday.

CBS2's Bobby Kaple reported there was a feeling of sadness hanging over the school as students and staff deal with Lewellen's death.

"Once we went onto the main field we saw an ambulance there and people were huddled around and it was Tyler," recalls Arlington football player and senior Albert Alvarado.

His teammates said that while Lewellen wasn't a senior, he was still a team leader.

"He's just one of those guys where he just has a smile, always in a good mood, cracking jokes," said Alvarado.

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