The athlete’s high school teammates, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton, also lost their lives in the July 6 incident.
Khyree Jackson, a 2024 NFL draftee, has passed away at the age of 24.
The athlete, who was preparing for his NFL debut this fall as a rookie cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, died in a “triple fatal car crash” in Maryland early on Saturday, July 6, according to a press release from the Maryland State Police.
Two of Jackson’s former high school teammates from Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24, also perished in the Prince George’s County crash. Hazel was driving the Dodge Charger, with Jackson in the passenger seat and Lytton in the back.
The crash involved three vehicles: a Dodge Charger, a Chevrolet Impala, and a silver Infiniti driven by Cori Clingman. Authorities reported that Clingman attempted to change lanes at high speed, striking the Charger and then the Impala. The Charger veered off the road, hitting multiple tree stumps before coming to a stop.
Clingman, her two passengers, and the Impala driver were uninjured. Investigators suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School’s athletic department mourned the loss on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletic Department sends condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (State Champ 2016 c/o ’17), Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (State Champ 2015,16,17 c/o ’18), and Isaiah Hazel (State Champ 2015, 16, 17 c/o ’19). #OnceAPumaAlwaysAPuma.”
The Vikings expressed their sorrow in an official statement: “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
Several Vikings staff members shared their condolences. Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf noted, “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player,” adding, “it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said he is “heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,” recalling, “As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally. His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him. Khyree’s personality captured every room he was in. I’m devastated that his life and everything he had in front of him has been cut short.”
