By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
Maryland State Police continue to investigate the cause of a three-car accident which claimed the lives of three best friends – all former high school football stars at Wise Hill School in Prince George’s County. The crash occurred around 3:15 a.m. on July 6.
Photo: AP Images for the NFL/Doug Benc
Members of the school community, located in Upper Marlboro, Md., continue to share their thoughts of the three friends who shared a love for the game of football: NFL-rookie Khyree Jackson, A.J. Lytton and Isaiah Hazel.
A vigil has been scheduled at Wise High School on Friday, July 12, at 7 p.m.
The three victims, all in their early 20s, were former teammates at Wise High and part of the Pumas football team that won the State Championship in 2016.
According to Maryland State Police(MSP), the three men were in a Dodge Charger heading north on Route 4 near Presidential Parkway – an area reportedly known for those driving at excessive speeds. Another car, allegedly driven by Cori Clingman, 23, struck them at a high rate of speed while attempting to pass their vehicle.
Clingman, who has not as yet been charged, then struck a Chevrolet Impala. MSP said alcohol may have served as a factor. Charges remain pending until the conclusion of an investigation and upon the recommendations of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The Charger went off the right side of the road and hit multiple tree stumps before coming to a stop. Both Hazel and Jackson were pronounced dead at the scene while Lytton later died from his injuries after being taken to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. No one else was injured in the crash.
Jackson, who played college football at Alabama and Oregon, had recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
“When you talk about players that left their mark on where they’ve been, whether that be their high school, their universities or their colleges. or even their pro-level, for Khyree’s situation, nobody has anything negative to say,” said Wise High School head football coach Steve Rapp.
Rapp further commented on the positive support which each of the three friends received from their families.
“It’s all positive and that just speaks to the young men, who these young men were and also the families they came from that raised great young men. I like to think that the Wise football program had a piece in that,” Rapp said. “And we all know that legends never die.”
In a statement issued by the Vikings, team officials said they were “devastated” by the news.
“Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident,” the Vikings wrote via their official social media account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell posted his thoughts on X as well.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” he said. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”
O’Connell spoke about the talent and potential displayed while he coached Jackson.
“In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player,” he wrote. “But what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him.”
Hazel and Lytton also played college football – Hazel for the University of Maryland and University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Lytton for Florida State University and Penn State University.
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