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A former Penn State University cornerback was among the three killed in a car crash in Maryland Saturday morning.
Maryland State Police said Anthony “A.J.” Lytton, Jr. 24, was among the three killed in the three-car crash in Prince George’s County, just outside Washington, D.C. Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson, 24, and Isaiah Hazel, 23, who played college football at Maryland and Charlotte, were also killed.
Lytton played one season with Penn State after two seasons with Florida State. He was from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where the crash happened.
Penn State football said on social media that the organization “mourns the loss of former Nittany Lion, A.J. Lytton. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, friends, high school & all involved in the tragedy.”
The Vikings released a statement saying the team spoke to Jackson’s family, and is “devastated by the news.”
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in the statement. “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.”
Jackson was a fourth-round selection of the Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft. He played two years at Alabama before finishing his college career with one season at Oregon.
Jackson was in the running to earn a starting cornerback job at the team’s training camp, which opens later this month in Eagan, Minnesota.
“I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in the statement.
Police said Jackson died at the scene.
Jackson, Lytton and Hazel won state championships together at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Maryland, according to On3.com.
They were in the same vehicle at the time of the crash. Hazel was driving, and Jackson and Lytton were passengers, police said.
Investigators believe the driver of a second vehicle traveling north attempted to change lanes “at a high rate of speed” when they struck the car driven by Hazel and a third vehicle.
Nobody was injured in the second or third vehicles.
Investigators say alcohol might have been a contributing factor in the crash, and charges are pending “the investigation and consultation with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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