Brandon Jackson killed in single-car crash

ByADAM RITTENBERG
September 12, 2016, 10:10 AM

— -- Army cornerback Brandon Jackson died Sunday following a single-car crash in Croton, New York, the academy announced Monday morning.

Jackson died just hours after starting for Army in its victory over Rice on Saturday. The sophomore from Queens, New York, appeared in every game as a freshman in 2015 and led the Black Knights with three interceptions to go along with 62 tackles. He had six tackles and two pass breakups this season. He was 20.

"Words cannot describe the grief that our team is feeling over the loss of our brother and friend, Brandon," coach Jeff Monken said in a statement. "He was a beloved teammate and our hearts are with his family at this time of tragedy."

According to Croton-on-Hudson police Detective Sgt. John Nikitopoulos, police received a call at 1:50 a.m. Sunday about a motor vehicle crash. When they arrived on the scene, they saw a single car had crashed into the guardrail. The driver was still in the car when responders arrived, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nikitopoulos confirmed that the preliminary investigation is still ongoing. Croton-on-Hudson is 19 miles south of the U.S. Military Academy on the opposite side of the Hudson River.

"We will honor his life as we mourn the untimely death of a young man who had a promising future as a leader in service to our Nation," Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, wrote in a letter to the West Point community. "Brandon internalized our watch words, Duty, Honor, Country."

Several Army players reacted to Jackson's death on social media Sunday night.