'Modern Family' star Sarah Hyland takes break from Twitter after users troll cousin's death

USA TODAY

Sarah Hyland is stepping away from social media due to the harsh criticism she received following the death of her 14-year-old cousin who was killed by a drunk driver in Nebraska.

The Omaha Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that Trevor Canaday died Saturday evening after another vehicle ran a red light and plowed into the car he was riding in with his father. Canaday was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries to his head.

Hyland's uncle, Clifford Canaday, 59, who was behind the wheel during the crash, suffered serious head injuries and was transported to Nebraska Medicine, officers added in a press release.

Jeffrey Eggeling was charged with two (2) counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash.

The "Modern Family" star, 28, asked her Twitter followers to pray for her family, but Hyland also received some unwanted negative thoughts and opinions that proved to be overwhelming.

"You guys finally did it," she tweeted Monday. "Your horrible negative ignorant words have broken me. Happy? Staying offline for a while. I have a special announcement and video releasing on Wednesday I believe. So. There’s that."

Prior to taking a break from social media, Hyland used her Twitter account to mourn her teenage cousin after the tragedy.

"Yesterday my 14 year old cousin was killed by a drunk driver," the actress tweeted Sunday. "My Uncle is in the hospital awaiting more surgeries. PLEASE keep your prayers with my family during this horrific time."

Authorities identified the driver as Jeffrey Eggeling, 36. Police said the suspect "fled on foot from the scene" following the collision.

"Eggeling was located on foot a short distance from the collision scene," according to booking information obtained by USA TODAY. "Eggeling had the odor of alcoholic beverage about his person as well as slurred speech."

The suspect was booked into Douglas County Corrections on two counts of DUI causing serious injury and a count of leaving the scene of a personal injury crash.

The Douglas County attorney Don Kleine charged Eggeling with motor vehicle homicide on Tuesday, and Eggeling is due in court on Wednesday to set bond, according to reports from Omaha outlets KETV and WOWT.

Hyland slammed Eggeling on Twitter, calling him "a murderer."

"JEFFERY EGGERLING (sic) had two prior DUI’s and tried to RUN from the scene of the crime after hitting my Uncle’s car SO fast that my 14 yr old cousin, who was wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle," she tweeted. "May he rot in hell."

Hyland included a link to a GoFundMe page along with her message to raise money for funeral and hospital expenses for the Canaday family.

Sarah Hyland took to Twitter to mourn her 14-year-old cousin Trevor Canaday, who was killed by a drunk driver in Omaha, Nebraska, Saturday.

"Trevor and his dad were driving to a show choir event and were involved in a serious car accident due to a drunk driver," the fundraising page reads.

The actress, best known for playing Haley Dunphy on the hit show "Modern Family," thanked her co-stars Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould for donating to the campaign.

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