Former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle and first-round pick DJ Hayden is one of six victims of a car crash in Houston early Saturday morning.
Houston police responded to a call around 2 a.m. about a “serious crash” at the intersection of Fannin and Pierce streets where six people, five men and one woman, were found dead, CNN reports.
A Chrysler vehicle allegedly ran a red light to collide head-on with an Acura SUV crossing an intersection.
“The force of the impact caused several people to be ejected from their vehicle,” Houston police said in a statement.
In addition to the six people who died, four people were injured in the accident, including a woman who is in critical condition.
DJ Hayden, 33, was in the Acura SUV at the time of the crash, according to authorities.
The Raiders, who now play in Las Vegas, confirmed his death in a press release posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“The prayers of all of Raiders Nation are with DJ’s loved ones,” it says.
The defender was able to recover from a serious heart attack in 2012 after contact with another player during training.
He was selected in the first round of the draft the following year by the Raiders, who were then playing in Oakland.
“Everyone who knew him will remember DJ’s courage, perseverance and dedication to his teammates,” the team added in their 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, as well as Washington in 2021.
