Former Coeur d'Alene High athlete dies in car crash

TWIN FALLS - A former Coeur d'Alene High School student-athlete died in a vehicle accident early Sunday morning near Twin Falls, according to sources.

Devon Austin, his friend Ryan Rhinehart and Austin's girlfriend, Jessica Duran, were about seven miles south of Twin Falls when their car crashed for an unknown reason, sources said. Rhinehart and Austin died, they said. Duran sustained minor injuries.

Duran is a a former soccer player at Coeur d'Alene.

A former catcher and basketball player at Coeur d'Alene High, Austin was on scholarship at the College of Southern Idaho. He had earlier signed with New Mexico State, a four-year school, before opting to play at CSI, a two-year school. In June, he was drafted in the 45th round by the Chicago Cubs. He was the 2009 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year and the Louisville Slugger Player of the Year.

"He just kind of attracted people to him," Coeur d'Alene baseball coach Nick Rook said of Austin. "His personality was almost intoxicating. He was someone who drew you in very easily. He was a spectacular person who probably had more positive influence than he ever realized."

Rook said a memorial for Austin has been placed on home plate at Ted Page Field, CdA's home ballpark.

"My prayers go out to his parents, and any other families that were involved," Rook said. "Words don't describe the magnitude of the loss, and the effect this will have on the community."