UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A community is still in shock after the death Saturday of three Wise High School alumni, including NFL rookie Khyree Jackson.
Jackson and two of his former high school football teammates – 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel and 24-year-old Anthony "AJ" Lytton Jr. – were killed early Saturday when a speeding, possibly drunk driver crashed an Infiniti into their car in Upper Marlboro. The car, a Charger, was knocked off the road, crashing into multiple tree stumps.
Hazel and Jackson were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Lytton was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center in Largo, where he later died.
A state police preliminary investigation indicated that the driver of the Infiniti, 23-year-old Cori Clingman, was heading north on Route 4 when she hit the Charger and an Impala at what they say was high speed.
Police say alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, but they did not elaborate.
Clingman struck a second vehicle, but no one was injured according to investigators.
Multiple family members told WUSA9 that Clingman is a long-time friend of the three men who died in the crash.
Prosecutors say they need more evidence to determine if someone will be criminally charged in this case.
In a statement to WUSA9, Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office said they continue working with Maryland State Police adding, "We only have initial reports which do not include the BAC which has to be developed from the medical records in this case. We have not yet received those yet. There is a need for more information about what exactly happened to collect sufficient evidence. An early evidentiary review has been scheduled for this week."
Jackson, 24, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 draft and was about to start training. The Vikings head coach, Kevin O'Connell, wrote a tribute to Jackson on X.
"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. What was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him."
WUSA9 spoke with a man who had previously coached all three of the men killed, and he said the friends always stayed close to their roots.
"All of those young men were tight ... [they] played together," Coach LaDawn Parrish said. "It's amazing that they went three separate ways in terms of going to college and playing football, but were still always together when they came back home in the summertime."
While there are still many unanswered questions about what happened Saturday, what is clear is that all three men made a significant impact in their community and were loved by many.
“We are all sort of at a loss and you try to get facts from what you think happened and try to know from different reports, but in the end, what you do know is that we lost three young men," Parrish said. "That’s final.”
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