Former Oakland Raiders defensive back and first-round draft pick DJ Hayden is one of six victims of a car accident Saturday morning in Houston.
Houston police responded to a call around 2 a.m. about a “serious accident” at the intersection of Fannin and Pierce streets, where six people, five men and one woman, were found unresponsive, CNN reports.
A Chrysler vehicle apparently ran a red light and collided head-on with an Acura SUV that was crossing an intersection.
“The force of the impact resulted in multiple individuals being ejected from their vehicle,” Houston police said in a statement.
In addition to the six fatalities, four people were injured in the accident, including a woman who is in critical condition.
According to authorities, 33-year-old DJ Hayden was reportedly in the Acura SUV during the crash.
The Raiders, now playing in Las Vegas, confirmed his death via a press release posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“The prayers of the entire Raiders Nation go out to DJ’s loved ones,” it said.
The defensive back was able to recover from a serious heart attack in 2012 after contact with another player during a training session.
He was drafted in the first round of the following year’s draft by the Raiders, who were then playing in Oakland.
“Everyone who knows him will remember DJ’s courage, perseverance and commitment to his teammates,” the team added in its message on X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to the Raiders between 2013 and 2016, DJ Hayden also wore the colors of the Detroit Lions in 2017, the Jacksonville Jaguars between 2018 and 2020 and the Washington in 2021.