The accident happened around 3:14 a.m. on northbound Interstate 4 near Presidential Parkway. Police said the three men were in a Dodge Charger driven by Hazel when the Charger and another vehicle were struck by an Infiniti Q50 that was changing lanes at a high rate of speed.
Police said the Charger went off Route 4 and struck several tree stumps before coming to a stop. 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 vehicle was also uninjured.
State police said investigators believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. No charges had been filed early Saturday.
Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft after stints at Alabama and Oregon. Litton played at Florida State and Penn State, while Hazell played at Maryland and Charlotte. Both the Vikings and Wise teams expressed condolences on Saturday.
The three played for coach Darrone Parrish and won multiple state championships as he built a dynasty at Wise. When Parrish retired in January after winning six titles, Jackson, Litton and Hazel attended a surprise party for the outgoing coach, Parrish said Saturday.
“These were great young men,” Parrish said, “hard working and very caring. Those three will always be a part of my life. These young men helped me grow as a coach and as a person, just as they say I helped them grow. I will always miss them and I will always love them. I’m glad we at least had them with us at the end.”
All three players were two-way stars for Wise, playing on both offense and defense, and they helped the Prince George’s County team win 43 straight games over multiple seasons and capture three consecutive state titles.
Litton was named All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 after spending his senior season as a key part of a dominant defensive backfield. He began his collegiate career at Florida State before transferring to Penn State.
Jackson played wide receiver and defensive back for the Pumas but eventually settled into a star defensive role at the collegiate level. A tall, athletic cornerback, he finished his career as an All-Pacific 12 selection at the University of Oregon.
Another star player at wide receiver and cornerback, Hazell, attended the University of Maryland. He transferred from West Virginia to give Maryland an extra boost as a local recruit. He played four seasons at Maryland before transferring to Charlotte for his final year of eligibility.
