Driver Who Caused Crash That Killed NFL Rookie Khyree Jackson Pleads Guilty to Negligent Homicide

The driver responsible for the car crash that killed NFL rookie Khyree Jackson and two of his friends in July 2024 has pleaded guilty.

Cori Clingman, 25, admitted to three counts of negligent homicide under the influence of alcohol in a Maryland court on Friday, Nov. 7, according to ESPN and local outlets WJLA and WUSA9.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a five-year sentence for each count, suspending all but one year on each and ordering them to run consecutively, per WJLA. This means Clingman is expected to serve approximately three years in prison.

Clingman was initially charged with 13 offenses, including negligent manslaughter, homicide due to negligent driving, and driving under the influence, when she was arrested in January.

The crash claimed the lives of Jackson — who had been preparing for his debut as a Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback in the 2024–2025 NFL season — and two of his former high school teammates: Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24.

According to the Maryland State Police, Hazel was driving a Dodge Charger with Jackson in the passenger seat and Lytton in the back when Clingman’s silver Infiniti Q50 struck their car and another vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala.

Investigators said Clingman was traveling at a high rate of speed when she attempted to change lanes, hitting both vehicles. The Charger veered off the roadway and collided with multiple tree stumps before coming to a stop.

Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead at the scene, while Lytton was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Clingman, her passengers, and the driver of the Impala all survived without injury.

Prince George’s County Prosecutor Aisha Braveboy said after Clingman’s arrest that her blood alcohol level was above the legal limit of 0.08% in Maryland, per ESPN. Braveboy also noted that one or more vehicles were traveling at “very high” speeds before the collision but did not specify which.

According to The Minnesota Star-Tribune, court records show that Clingman had been cited twice for speeding since 2018 — including once for driving 100 mph in a 55-mph zone.

Clingman’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2026.

At the time of the crash, Jackson was just a month away from his 25th birthday and had been selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Vikings. After his death, the team donated $20,000 toward his funeral expenses and paid his estate his full signing bonus of $827,148.