Cori Clingman faces 13 charges in connection with Khyree Jackson’s death

A driver involved in the crash that killed Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson and two others was arrested Thursday and charged with 13 counts, including DUI and criminally negligent manslaughter, the police said. State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Cori Clingman, who was 23 at the time of the crash, remained in custody Thursday evening and will have a bond hearing Friday, prosecutor Aisha Braveboy said. Clingman faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, Braveboy said.

“This is a horrible tragedy that should not have happened,” Braveboy said. “This only begins our fight for justice.”

The three-car crash occurred at 3:14 a.m. on July 6, 2024. Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr., two of Jackson’s high school football teammates, were also killed.

Hazel, 23, played at Maryland and Charlotte. Lytton, 24, played at Florida State and Penn State.

Maryland State Police said last summer Hazel was driving a Dodge Charger with Jackson in the passenger seat when their car was struck by an Infiniti Q50 driven by Clingman, who was attempting to change lanes at a high speed. Clingman’s car also struck a Chevrolet Impala. The Charger left the road and struck several tree stumps. Police say Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead at the scene, while Lytton was taken to the hospital before being pronounced dead by hospital staff.

Clingman, the two passengers in his car and the driver of the Impala were not injured. According to Braveboy, Clingman attended high school with Jackson, Hazel and Lytton and “they all knew each other for a very long time.”

Braveboy said Thursday she couldn’t add many details because the investigation was “ongoing.” She did not reveal Clingman’s exact blood alcohol level, but confirmed it was “at least” above the legal limit of 0.08 percent in Maryland.

Jackson, who was a month shy of his 25th birthday at the time of his death, was the Vikings’ fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He participated in OTAs and spring minicamps and endeared himself to a veteran team with his enthusiasm and confidence.

The Vikings donated $20,000 for Jackson’s funeral and also paid his $827,148 signing bonus to his estate.

A contingent of players and staff attended his funeral, at which coach Kevin O’Connell was one of the guest speakers. Players wore a “KJ” sticker on the back of their helmets throughout the season, while coaches and staff members wore pins with the same initials.

“You felt like (Jackson) was so focused on his mission and his plan,” O’Connell said during training camp. “It really showed in the spring. He had a really, really good spring and he was really looking forward to coming back to training camp and being on track (and) on that path to making a big impact on our team for this moment year. Just some of my personal dialogue with him and the work he did throughout the summer, you knew he was going to come back and do this.

In an ESPN report that aired earlier this month, O’Connell said he “fell in love” with Jackson during his brief time with the team this spring and that the players and coaches rallied around in his memory.

“We’re all grieving and we’re all grieving in our own way,” O’Connell said. “But there’s nothing more powerful than grieving together, and we’re going to do it in the way that best honors Khyree and her family.”