The crash happened around 3:14 a.m. on northbound Route 4 near Presidential Parkway. The three men were riding in a Dodge Charger driven by Hazel when the Charger and another car were struck by an Infiniti Q50 that changed lanes while traveling at a high rate of speed, police said.
The Charger left Route 4 and struck several tree stumps before coming to a stop, police said. The driver of the Infiniti, identified by police as a woman from Upper Marlboro, and her two passengers were not injured. The driver of the other car was also not injured.
State police say investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash. No charges have been filed as of early Saturday morning.
Jackson was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft after playing at Alabama and then Oregon. Lytton played college games at Florida State and Penn State, and Hazel played at Maryland and Charlotte. Both the Vikings and Wise issued statements of condolence Saturday.
All three men played for coach DaLawn Parrish and won multiple state championships as Parrish built a dynasty at Wise. When Parrish stepped down in January after winning six titles, Jackson, Lytton and Hazel all showed up for a surprise party for the outgoing coach, Parrish said Saturday.
“Outstanding young men,” Parrish said. “Hardworking, very caring. All three of them will always be a part of my life. As they told me, these young men helped me grow as a coach and as a man. I will always miss them, always love them, if nothing else I am glad they were together at the end.”
All three players were two-way stars for Wise, providing standouts on both offense and defense, and contributing to a 43-game winning streak for the Prince George’s County program that spanned multiple seasons and included three consecutive state titles.
Lytton was named All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 after spending his senior season as the backfield anchor of a dominant defense. He began his college career at Florida State before transferring to Penn State.
Jackson played wide receiver and defensive back for the Pumas, but eventually settled into his role as a defensive star at the college level. A tall, physical corner, he finished his career at Oregon as an All-Pac 12 selection.
Hazel, another standout at wide receiver and cornerback, committed to Maryland. He had flipped his commitment from West Virginia, giving the hometown Terps more momentum with local recruits. He played four seasons for Maryland before transferring to Charlotte for his final year of eligibility.