Former Charlotte 49er, NFL player killed in Maryland vehicle crash

WBTV UPPER MARLBORO, Md. Two people including a former football player for the Charlotte 49ers perished in an early-morning car accident in Maryland on Saturday, July 6.

Following the three-car collision in Prince George’s County, Anthony Lytton, Jr. was declared dead at a hospital, while Isaiah Hazel, 23, and rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson of the Minnesota Vikings perished at the site, according to reports from the Maryland State Police.

Lytton, Jackson, and Hazel were all teammates in high school. After transferring from Maryland, Hazel played in every game for the 49ers during one season at Charlotte. Lytton attended Penn State and Florida State for his collegiate career.

At Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Maryland, the three won a state title together, and the school honored them in social media post.

Charlotte 49ers head football coach Biff Poggi released the following statement:

“We are heartbroken today at the news of Isaiah Hazel’s untimely passing. Our program mourns his loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Isaiah’s family during this tragic time. All of Isaiah’s hopes and dreams were still before him, and I pray that his family is granted strength now more than ever.”

The Vikings selected Jackson in the fourth round of the draft in April. Before completing his collegiate career with a single season at Oregon, he played for two years at Alabama.

When the team’s training camp opens in Eagan, Minnesota later this month, Jackson was vying for a spot as the starting cornerback.

In a statement, the Vikings said they had spoken with Jackson’s family and were “devastated by the news.”

“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “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.”

According to the Maryland State Police, Hazel was operating the vehicle when Jackson and Lytton were passengers. The Dodge Charger was struck, went off the road, and impacted many tree stumps.

When it collided with Hazel’s automobile and a third vehicle, investigators suspect the driver of the second car, which was heading north, was attempting to change lanes “at a high rate of speed.”