Driver Who Caused Crash That Killed NFL Rookie Khyree Jackson Charged with DUI, Vehicular Manslaughter

The driver who allegedly caused the fatal car crash that killed NFL rookie Khyree Jackson was charged with 13 counts on Thursday, Jan. 23, per The Washington Post, ESPN and The Minnesota Star-Tribune.

Cori Clingman was arrested for alleged negligent manslaughter, homicide as a result of negligent driving and drunken driving and several other counts on Thursday, Jan. 23, per the Star-Tribune. She is currently in custody awaiting a Friday, Jan. 24 bond hearing, prosecutor Aisha Braveboy said, per ESPN. Clingman, now 24, faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Jackson, who was 24, was in a “triple fatal car crash” in his home state of Maryland on Saturday, July 6, according to a press release from the Maryland State Police. The athlete’s former high school football teammates Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24, also died in the crash.

A silver Infiniti Q50, Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Charger were involved in the 3:14 a.m. crash. Clingman was driving the Infiniti with two passengers inside. The Chevrolet only had the driver inside.

Jackson, who was set to make his NFL debut this fall as the Minnesota Vikings’ rookie cornerback, was in the passenger seat of the Dodge Charger. Hazel was driving the vehicle, and Lytton was in the backseat.

“Investigators believe Clingman attempted to change lanes while driving at a high rate of speed when she struck the Dodge Charger and then struck the Chevrolet Impala,” police said, per ESPN. “The Charger subsequently traveled off of the right side of the roadway and struck multiple tree stumps where the vehicle came to rest.”

Clingman and the Infiniti passengers in her Infiniti, as well as the Impala driver, all survived with no injuries.

Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead at the scene. Lytton was taken to a hospital, which is where he was pronounced dead.

Braveboy said the investigation into the accident is ongoing. The attorney also said that Clingman’s blood alcohol content was “at least” above the legal limit of 0.08% in Maryland, per ESPN.

Braveboy also said one or more vehicles traveled at “very high” speeds before the crash. She would not specify which of the cars was speeding. Per the Star-Tribune, court records show that Clingman has been cited twice for speeding since 2018. In one of the incidents, Clingman reportedly was going 100 mph in a 55 mph zone.

At the time of the accident, Jackson was one month away from his 25th birthday and expected to join the Vikings for the 2024-25 season. He was the team’s fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. 

After his death, the Vikings donated $20,000 toward expenses for Jackson’s funeral and also paid out his $827,148 signing bonus to his estate.

He previously played for the University of Alabama and University of Oregon. Hazel played as a defensive back at the University of Maryland and UNC-Charlotte. Lytton was a safety at Florida State and Penn State.

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The Maryland State Police and Braveboy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.