Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa makes $10k donation to family of fan who died in crash

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Tua Tagovailoa made a $10,000 donation on Tuesday to the family of a late fan who created the "We Are TuAnon" Twitter account that supported the Miami Dolphins quarterback and drew a large following.

Eric Carmona wore a dolphin mask and used a voice modulator in viral videos that praised and defended Tagovailoa against opposing fan bases and media personalities.

Carmona, a Navy veteran, died in a motorcycle crash on June 1 in Murrieta, California, according to the Murrieta Police Department. He was 30. The GoFundMe post said Carmona died on his way to work. He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and four children.

“He’s a diehard fan about me, but out of my respect to him, he basically not just covered me but the entire Dolphins,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday.

“For me to have done that. Tyreek was able to do the same and other guys have been able to do the same. But I want his wife and kids to know we’re praying for them and thinking of them.”

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill also donated $7,000, while Dolphins CEO and president Tom Garfinkel donated $1,000.

"We family, fins know that," Hill tweeted following his donation.

Tagovailoa’s donation on Tuesday night put the original $50,000 over to $57,000.

The goal has been raised to $75,000, and it stands at more than $63,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

“Eric was TuAnon. The videos were him, the modulator was him. The interviews with media were him,” the account TheGaluminati tweeted following his death. “We’ll miss you Chico. Eric was a navy veteran, massive Tua fan, massive Dolphins fan, great husband, and great father.”

Carmona also received a shoutout from Peter Schrager, a host of NFL Network's Good Morning Football, who called him a “vibrant and vocal Dolphins supporter” and said his death was particularly hard to hear.

“This news rocked me because we love our NFL fans, we love the interactions, and I thought the least we could do is mention Eric’s name on air, and honor his passing on a show we know he watched so often, and sometimes – okay, often times, would critique quite often as well,” Schrager said.

Carmona’s wife also shared a statement following the outpouring of support her family has received from the GoFundMe.

“My little family is beyond grateful to everyone who has made a donation,” she said. “You can’t imagine how grateful I am and how grateful Eric would be to see this support.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tua Tagovailoa donates to family of Dolphins fan who died in crash