HOUSTON — Six people, including three former University of Houston football players, were killed in a violent crash in downtown Houston early Saturday morning, officials confirmed.
The former UH football players were identified as D.J. Hayden, who went on to play eight seasons in the NFL, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu. Family members confirmed another one of the victims was Lauren Robinson-Holliday. They, along with two other people, were all in the same vehicle that was hit by a speeding Chrysler, Robinson-Holliday's family said.
We have not yet learned the IDs of the other two victims, but police said one of them appeared to be a homeless man.
What happened
Shortly after 2 a.m., police said a black Acura SUV was traveling southbound on Fannin Street. That vehicle had a green light at the intersection with Pierce Street. At the same time, police said a black Chrysler 300 was going eastbound on Pierce Street at a high rate of speed and went through a red light at Fannin, hitting the Acura. Police said people in both vehicles were ejected, including the driver of the Chrysler and three people in the Acura. The Chrysler also hit and killed a man on the sidewalk, who police believe was homeless.
The Chrysler driver and three others were pronounced dead at the scene. Four people were taken to the hospital. Two of them were declared dead there. A third person at the hospital has life-threatening injuries.
At this point, we don't know the identity of the Chrysler driver or the man on the sidewalk who was killed.
The victims
D.J. Hayden
Hayden, 33, is a former University of Houston and NFL football player who made national headlines in 2012 when he suffered a life-threatening injury in a practice at UH. After that injury, he had surgery to repair a tear in the main blood vessel that leads into the heart. The inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower half of the body back to the heart. At the time, doctors said it's an injury more often seen in car accidents than in football.
Hayden became a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2013 and played in eight seasons through 2020 for the Raiders, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hayden was born in Houston and played high school football at Fort Bend ISD's Elkins High School in Missouri City.
He was working as a defensive back coach at Second Baptist School before dying in the crash.
"This was his first year with our program," said Beck Brydon, head football coach for Second Baptist School. "Our team is devastated. Kids loved him. He made a huge impact on our kids and our program in the short time we knew him. He will be sorely missed!"
Zachary McMillian
Zachary McMillian attended Fort Bend ISD's Dulles High School before going on to play football for the University of Houston, where he was a defensive back. He saw action in all four years at the University of Houston. In his senior season, he was third in the American Athletic Conference with five interceptions.
According to his bio on the University of Houston athletics site, at Dulles, McMillian was also a track and field athlete, a member of DECA and PALS and was named Mr. DHS his senior year.
His father, Audray McMillian, also played football for the University of Houston and nine years in the NFL for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings.
Ralph Oragwu
Ralph Oragwu attended Fort Bend ISD's Marshall High School before going on to play football for the University of Houston.
Oragwu was born in Lagos, Nigeria and graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in sociology.
Lauren Robinson-Holliday
Lauren Robinson-Holliday, 32, is a graduate of Hightower High School in the Fort Bend ISD high school in Fort Bend ISD, as well as East Texas Baptist University and Lamar University. Her mom said she leaves behind a host of family and friends that love her.
"My baby mattered. She was driving the car when that man killed her. She was important too," Cynthia Bennett said.
State Representative Ron Reynolds considered Robinson-Holliday to be like a niece and described her as a "beautiful, intelligent, God-fearing young lady whose life was taken too soon."
He went on to say that she was a remarkable product of the community who did a lot of community service like back-to-school giveaways and Thanksgiving food distributions.
"She was a giving person in private and personal life," Reynolds said.
Bennett said she wants everyone to remember her daughter as a good person.
Robinson-Holliday leaves behind a spouse, mother, father, siblings, nieces, nephews, godchildren and a community that loved her.
Reaction and condolences
After news broke of the accident, messages of condolences started to pour in for the former UH football players.
The University of Houston released the following statement:
"The entire University of Houston community is heartbroken over the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffery Lewis in his recovery ahead. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones, as we collectively mourn the loss of three individuals who made an indelible impact on each life they touched. While their combined talents provided Houston Football some of its most unforgettable moments, their unique legacies will best be remembered for the way they loved their teammates, supported their communities and defied the odds."
The Raiders released the following statement on X on Hayden's passing:
"The Raiders Family is mourning the tragic loss of former cornerback D.J. Hayden. The Raiders' first-round draft pick out of the University of Houston in 2013. DD.J. overcame a heart injury sustained in a college practice to play nine years in the NFL, including his first four with the Silver and Black. D.J.'s courage, perseverance and dedication to his teammates will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew him. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with D.J.'s loved ones at this time."
The Houston Texans posted to X, honoring the three former UH players killed early Saturday morning.