The crash happened around 3:14 a.m. on northbound Route 4 near Presidential Parkway. The three men were traveling in a Dodge Charger driven by Hazel when the Charger and another car were struck by an Infiniti Q50 that was changing lanes at a high rate of speed, police said.
The Charger left Route 4 and struck several tree stumps before coming to rest, police said. The driver of the Infiniti, identified by police as an Upper Marlboro woman, and her two passengers were not injured. The driver of the other car was also not injured.
State police said investigators believe alcohol may have contributed to the crash. No charges have been filed as of Saturday morning.
Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft after playing at Alabama and Oregon. Lytton played college football at Florida State and Penn State, and Hazel played at Maryland and Charlotte. The Vikings and Wise both released 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 resigned in January after winning six titles, Jackson, Lytton and Hazel all showed up at a surprise party for the departing coach, Parrish said Saturday.
“These are exceptional young men,” Parrish said. “They work hard, they care. They’ll always be a part of my life. Like they told me, I helped them grow, these young men helped me grow as a coach and as a man. I’ll always miss them, I’ll always love them, and at least I’m glad they’re together at the end.”
All three players were two-way stars for Wise, bringing strengths on both offense and defense. They contributed to a 43-game winning streak for the Prince George’s County program that spanned multiple seasons and included three straight state titles.
Lytton was named All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 after spending his senior season as the anchor of a dominant defense. He began his college career at Florida State before transferring to Penn State.
Jackson played receiver and defensive end for the Pumas, but eventually settled into his role as a defensive star at the college level. A long, physical corner, he finished his career at Oregon as an All-Pac 12 selection.
Hazel, another standout at receiver and cornerback, left for Maryland. He had switched commitments to West Virginia, giving his hometown Terps more momentum with local recruits. He played four seasons for Maryland before transferring to Charlotte for his final year of eligibility.
