Former Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard killed in horrific 880 freeway crash

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard was killed early Monday when his speeding BMW rear-ended a big rig and then careened out of control, hurling over a center divider and slamming head-on into CRV on Highway 880 in Oakland, sources told KTVU.

CHP Sgt. Robert Cullinan said the driver of the CRV was also killed in the crash.

Cullinan said the horrific crash took place at about 12:50 a.m. on southbound Highway 880 between Fifth and 10th avenues.

'The BMW was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed,' Cullinan said. 'It rear-ended a big rig, rolled over several times, bouncing over the center divider wall and collided head-on with the CRV in the other lane.'

Cullinan said the initial investigation has revealed the BMW was traveling more than 100 mph. The force of the impact disintegrated both vehicles, killing both male drivers.

The CHP initially only identified the dead drivers as a 30-year-old man from Alameda and a 65-year-old man from Hayward in the CRV.

However, sources have confirmed with KTVU that the 30-year-old Howard -- who had a home in Alameda -- had been killed in the crash.

The Alameda County coroner's bureau later identified the other driver as 64-year-old Zeng Long Liu of Hayward.

The driver of the Chevrolet complained of pain and was transportedto Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Hill said.

A second-round pick in the 2006 draft, Howard spent five seasons with the Raiders before signing with Cincinnati in 2011. He was limited by a knee injury to only one game in 2012 and was released by the Bengals in March.

He signed this season with the Atlanta Falcons but was recently released.

A third driver suffered minor injuries, Cullinan said, but the big rig driver was uninjured.

A Sig-alert was issued around 1:20 a.m. It was lifted at 5:30 a.m. when the crash was cleared from the roadway, the CHP said.

The crash remained under investigation. It was not known if alcohol played a role in the crash.