Khyree Jackson death: Driver pleads guilty to negligent homicide charges in deadly crash

The driver responsible for the crash that killed former Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson and two others last year has pleaded guilty to three counts of negligent homicide under the influence of alcohol, according to ESPN.

Cori Clingman, 25, entered the plea in a Maryland courtroom on Friday. As part of a plea agreement, she is expected to serve three years in prison. Prosecutors said they will recommend a five-year sentence for each count, with all but one year of each term suspended, to be served consecutively.

Clingman is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 4. Before the plea deal, she faced 13 total charges stemming from the July 6, 2024, crash. Authorities said she was intoxicated and driving more than 100 miles per hour when she caused a three-car collision that claimed the lives of Jackson and two of his high school teammates, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr.

Jackson, 24, was a cornerback selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon. His death sent shockwaves through both the college and professional football communities, as teammates and coaches across multiple programs paid tribute to his talent, leadership and character.

Lions’ Terrion Arnold changed his jersey number to honor Jackson

Earlier this year, Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold changed his jersey number to six to honor former Alabama teammate Khyree Jackson. While appearing on New Wave Pod, Arnold explained why he’s honoring Jackson, who died in July.

“I wore six in high school, too,” Arnold said. “We all know what happened to our friend Khyree, and I just feel like being able to honor his legacy and the impact that he even had on me. The guy was a competitor, ultimate competitor. It’s that extra motivation.

“When you look down, and you say, ‘Dang man. I got on that six.’ My brother living through me at the same time. Just how they have those same things where they say football is bigger than you. Just looking at it like talking to his little brother, he could go look on the screen and look in the camera and say, ‘He’s wearing No. 6 because of my big brother.’

“That’s amazing. Then just being able to talk to his family, talk to his dad or his mom and just letting them know at the end of the day, Terrion ain’t forgot about Khyree.”

Terrion Arnold and Khyree Jackson played at Alabama together in 2021 and 2022. Jackson transferred to Oregon for the 2023 season, was named to the All-Pac-12 team.