Tragedy struck the Minnesota Vikings when rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson, 24, and two others were killed in a car crash involving three vehicles in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Jackson, a standout cornerback for the Oregon Ducks, was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
According to Maryland state police, Jackson was a passenger in a Dodge Charger being driven by Isaiah Hazel, 23, when the vehicle was struck by a silver Infiniti Q50 attempting to change lanes at a high speed. All three passengers in the Charger, including Jackson and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24, died in the collision early Saturday morning.
The Vikings’ owners, Mark and Zygu Wilf, released a statement expressing their sadness over Jackson’s passing. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives,” they said.
Police believe alcohol may have contributed to the crash, which also involved a silver Chevrolet Impala. The passengers in the Q50 and Impala were not injured. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed.
After the crash, the Charger traveled off the road and struck multiple tree stumps before coming to rest. Jackson’s former college head coach, Dan Lanning, expressed his grief online, saying he was “at a loss for words” and would miss Jackson’s smile.
Several members of the Vikings organization, including head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, sent their condolences, praising Jackson’s energy and desire to become a better person.
