The Green Bay Packers have several options to enhance their wide receiver lineup, but few choices offer as much potential as Kyren Lacy. The LSU wideout was on the verge of joining the prestigious ranks of NFL receivers from his university after securing 58 receptions for 866 yards and leading the team with nine touchdowns last season. He was gaining traction as a potential late first-round pick, ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver by ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
However, his draft prospects took a hit following his alleged role in a fatal head-on collision that claimed the life of a 78-year-old man last December. Although Lacy did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine due to the ongoing investigation, his name remained on several draft boards. The Milwaukee Sentinel projected him as a high-upside seventh-round pick for the Packers. Tragically, Lacy will not have the opportunity to pursue this path.
Louisiana authorities and family members confirmed that Lacy was found deceased in his apartment at the age of 24. The December 12 accident cast a shadow over Lacy’s future as a prospect. He declared for the draft two days later but surrendered to authorities on January 12, facing charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run resulting in death, and reckless vehicle operation. A grand jury was set to review evidence on April 14, ten days before the draft’s commencement, as reported by WAFB-TV.
A Louisiana Police statement alleges Lacy “recklessly overtook several vehicles at high speed” in a 2023 Dodge Charger before causing a collision in the opposite lane. According to ESPN, the statement details that a 2017 Kia Cadenza traveling behind a pickup truck swerved left to avoid the incoming Dodge Charger. In attempting to evade the Charger, the Kia crossed the centerline, leading to a head-on crash with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.
As Lacy illegally overtook other cars, a pickup truck driver heading north braked sharply and swerved right to avoid a head-on crash with the Dodge. The Louisiana Police accused Lacy of driving away from the accident scene without providing aid, calling for emergency services, or reporting his involvement. Herman Hall, a Thibodaux, Louisiana resident and passenger in the Kia Sorento, succumbed to injuries from the crash, according to state police.
