Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was a passenger in a vehicle involved in an overnight card accident. He, along with two others in the vehicle, passed away as a result of the 3 car collision.
Isaiah Hazel, and Anthony Lytton Jr., two former collegiate players themselves were identified by Maryland State Police as the victims after their Dodge Charger was allegedly struck by an Infinity Q50 attempting to change lanes at a high speed.
As a result, the Charger was forced off the road, striking several tree stumps in the process. Jackson and Hazel were both pronounced dead at the scene while Lytton Jr. was taken to a local hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
The drivers and passengers in the other two vehicles involved were unharmed. While charges have yet to be formally laid, pending the results of the ongoing investigation, reports indicate that officials believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor to the tragedy.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
A native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Jackson was a 4th round (108th overall) selection by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft. Though he had just joined the team, he quickly became a fan favourite at rookie camp due to his honest and light hearted responses to media questions.
Jackson was preparing to celebrate his 25th birthday next month.
Photo: Tony Webster. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.