Md. driver charged with DUI, vehicular manslaughter in 2024 crash that killed NFL draftee, 2 former teammates

A Maryland woman has been arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, including in a fatal crash that killed an NFL draftee and two of his former teammates near Joint Base Andrews in July 2024.

Cori Clingman of Upper Marlboro was arrested and charged Thursday after Maryland State Police investigated the crash.

“This was a terrible tragedy that should not have happened,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said during a news conference announcing the charges.

Prosecutors allege Clingman caused the deaths of three men, all Maryland natives, when she crashed her Infinity Q50 into a Dodge Charger and a Chevrolet Impala on July 6, 2024, while driving on Route 4-Pennsylvania Avenue.

Three friends inside the Charger were killed: Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24, both of Upper Marlboro, and Jackson, 24, of Waldorf.

The male driver of the Chevrolet Impala that was struck was not injured.

Clingman and two other passengers in her Infinity were not injured in the crash.

Jackson had been drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The three men were friends and former teammates at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro.

“These were three young men who had gotten it right in life, who had a fantastic, bright future ahead of them; but on July 6, they were taken away from all of us,” Braveboy said.

A grand jury returned a 13-count indictment against Clingman charging her with grossly negligent and criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter, as well as charges related to driving under the influence of alcohol.

“This is just beginning, really our fight to get justice for these three young men, their families, Wise High School, the NFL and this entire community,” Braveboy said.

Clingman was arrested without incident.

Since the day of the crash, prosecutors have said they believe alcohol was a “contributing factor” to the crash, noting that the Infinity was traveling at a “high rate of speed.”

Society mourns slain friends

The loss of the three friends was mourned throughout the Prince George’s County community; a viking hat was placed near the crash site as a memorial last summer.

Although Jackson never got to play in a game, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said during Jackson and Hazel’s joint funeral in July that Jackson “became interested in being a good teammate, being part of a locker room and committing to work hard for something bigger than himself.”

The NFL team wore KJ decals on their helmets in tribute.

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