Former Penn State football player AJ Lytton killed in car crash in Maryland

AJ Lytton, a former Penn State and Florida State football player, was one of three high school teammates killed in a car crash in Maryland on Saturday morning.

Maryland State Police identified Lytton, 24, Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Khyree Jackson, 24, as victims of a three-car crash in Prince George’s County. Hazel and Jackson were pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and Lytton was later pronounced dead at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. Police arrived at the scene of the crash in Upper Marlboro shortly after 3 a.m. Police say alcohol may have contributed to the crash, and charges are pending pending the investigation.

All three players were teammates at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, where they were part of state championship teams. They also played in college. Jackson played at Oregon and Alabama and was a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings. Hazel played at Maryland and UNC Charlotte. Lytton spent two seasons at Florida State before transferring to Penn State in 2020. Lytton was named Maryland’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017 and the DC Touchdown Club’s Maryland Player of the Year.

“The Penn State football family mourns the loss of former Nittany Lion AJ Lytton,” the Penn State football program said in a statement posted on X. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, high school and all those affected by the tragedy.”

In a statement, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said, “I am absolutely devastated by this news. Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately attracted his teammates. In our short time together, it was obvious that Khyree would develop into a great professional football player, but what was even more impressive
was his desire to be the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I’m at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

According to the Maryland State Police:

All three victims were passengers in a maroon Dodge Charger that was involved in the crash. Hazel was the driver. Jackson was in the passenger seat and Lytton was in the back seat of the vehicle.

Shortly after 3:14 a.m. this morning, Forestville Barracks officers responded to a crash on Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue northbound and Presidential Parkway north of Dower House Road in Upper Marlboro. The three vehicles involved in the crash were a silver Infinity Q50, a silver Chevrolet Impala, and a maroon Dodge Charger.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the silver Infiniti, later identified as Cori Clingman, 23, of Upper Marlboro, was traveling northbound on Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue in Prince George’s.
County. Investigators believe Clingman was attempting to change lanes at a high rate of speed when she struck the Dodge Charger and then the Chevrolet Impala. The Charger then veered off the right side of the road and struck several tree stumps, where
The vehicle came to a stop.

At the time of the accident, two other passengers were in Clingman’s Infinity. No one in their vehicle was injured.

The only person in the Chevrolet Impala was the driver. He was also uninjured in the accident and refused medical treatment at the scene.