The NFL community has lost one of its own.
D.J. Hayden, a first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders who spent nine seasons in the league, was killed in a car crash Nov. 11 in Houston. He was 33.
In addition to Hayden, fellow former University of Houston football players Zach McMillan, 32, Ralph Oragwu, 31, and another man and woman died in the accident, which occurred around 2 a.m. after a Chrysler 300 went speeding through a red light and hit an Acura SUV, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing a local police report.
A Houston Police Department spokeswoman said at a press briefing that another man, former UH football player Jeffery Lewis, and a woman survived the collision and remain hospitalized. The latter has life-threatening injuries, the spokeswoman said. The driver of the Chrysler was killed, while authorities have not yet determined who was driving the Acura. In addition, one of the victims appeared to be homeless, the police spokeswoman said. The incident remains under investigation.
