Former NFL player DJ Hayden one of six killed in horror car crash incident

An ex-NFL player was one of six people killed in a horror car crash incident that occurred in the early hours of the morning.

NFL star DJ Hayden was one of six people killed after a car ran through a red light. Credit: KHOU11

Former NFL player D.J. Hayden was killed in a car crash early Saturday morning in Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reported the 33-year-old Hayden, a cornerback at the University of Houston before being drafted in the first round by the Raiders (12th overall) in the 2013 draft, was one of six people killed after a car ran through a red light at about 2am local time, the NY Post reports.

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A black Chrysler 300 went speeding through the light and hit a black Acura SUV that had the right of way, according to police.

Hayden spent four of his eight seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and also spent time with Detroit, Jacksonville and Washington.

The Houston Police Department said four people were pronounced dead at the scene, one of whom was Hayden’s teammate at Houston, fellow cornerback Zach McMillian.

Hayden was one of six people killed after a car ran through a red light at about 2am local time. Credit: KHOU11

The crash occurred early Saturday morning in Houston. Credit: KHOU11

Four people were transferred to the hospital, two of whom have died, and one woman is said to have life-threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of the Chrysler 300 died at the scene along with a homeless male, according to the police.

Hayden had previously survived a heart injury that nearly killed him in 2012, when a hit during practice damaged a main vein leading to his heart after a teammate accidentally kneed Hayden in the chest.

Hayden recovered from that injury and went on to play 92 games while collecting four interceptions during a nine-year NFL career that ended in 2021.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Former NFL player DJ Hayden one of six killed in horror car crash incident