Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson killed in Maryland car crash that killed two others

Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was one of three people who died when another vehicle “traveling at a high rate of speed” struck the car he was riding in, Maryland police said. He was 24 years old.

The accident occurred shortly before 3:15 a.m. Saturday in Prince George’s County and involved a total of three vehicles, state police said in a press release.

Jackson was sitting in the passenger seat of a maroon Dodge Charger and was traveling with two other people identified as Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, 24.

Hazel, the driver, and Jackson died at the scene, police said. Lytton was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The crash occurred after a silver Infiniti attempted to change lanes on Route 4 northbound, the release said. Police said the driver, identified as Cori Clingman, was “driving at a high rate of speed” and struck the Charger before hitting a Chevrolet Impala.

The force of the impact caused the Charger to veer off the road and hit several tree stumps before coming to a stop.

Clingman, 23, and two other passengers in the Infiniti were not injured, police said. The driver of the Impala was also uninjured and declined medical treatment at the scene.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the news of Jackson’s death left him “completely devastated” and “at a loss for words.”

“Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team,” O’Connell said in a opinion posted on X. “His confidence and engaging personality immediately attracted his teammates. In our short time together, it was clear that Khyree would develop into a great professional football player, but even more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him.”

The Vikings said they were “devastated” by his death.

“Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident,” the team wrote on X.

Jackson, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was a cornerback at the University of Oregon and was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in April. He attended Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School with Hazel and Lytton, as a Social media post from the school’s sports department.

Further awards were received on Saturday.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing. Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player and it was clear that he was committed to being a great human being who made a positive impact on people’s lives,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Jackson “took steps to become the best version of himself” and his “personality captured every room he was in.”

“I am devastated that his life and everything that lay before him was cut so short,” Adofo-Mensah said in a statement.

Dan Lanning, head coach of the Oregon Ducks, wrote on X: “RIP Khyree… I love you @Real_Khyree. I’m at a loss for words. I will miss your smile. Great player, even better person.”

“The NFL family is deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson,” the NFL wrote on X. “Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, loved ones and all those affected by this tragic accident.”

Governor Wes Moore said Jackson was a “true talent who touched so many lives.”

“We mourn for him and the two other souls lost in this crash,” he said Posted on X.

Lytton was a defensive back at Florida State University and a cornerback at Pennsylvania State University. Hazel played defensive back at the University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Penn State Football said in a post on X it says that they “mourn the loss of former Nittany Lion AJ Lytton.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, high school and everyone involved in the tragedy,” the team wrote.

Biff Poggi, head coach of the Charlotte 49ers, said he was “heartbroken” by the news of Hazel’s death.

“Our program mourns his loss and our thoughts and prayers are with Isaiah’s family during this tragic time,” he said in a opinion“All of Isaiah’s hopes and dreams were still ahead of him and I pray that his family will be given more strength now than ever before.”

Investigators believe alcohol may have played a role in the accident and charges have been filed against her.