Cardinals’ Jeff Gladney, 25, died alongside his ‘girlfriend’ in crash

The Dallas car crash that claimed the life of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney also killed a 26-year-old woman being identified as his girlfriend.

The family of healthcare worker Mercedes Palacios has confirmed she was the other person that died in Monday’s crash along the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Dallas.

‘It’s just two great souls gone,’ Palacios’s brother, John Paul Figueroa, told Dallas’ NBC affiliate. ‘She was just a loving, selfless person.’

Local sportswriter Matt Thornton identified Palacios as Gladney’s girlfriend. 

Mercedes Palacios is pictured in a Facebook post alongside Jeff Gladney. The two were reportedly in a relationship at the time of Monday’s crash, that claimed both their lives 

Gladney had recently signed with the Arizona Cardinals after starting his career in Minnesota

Gladney’s Mercedes SUV lost control and ran into a freeway pier beam (pictured)

It’s still not known if Gladney was driving or if he was intoxicated at the time of the wreck

The revelation came after the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department released more information about Monday’s car crash. 

Police say a white Mercedes SUV was speeding when it clipped another car, leading to the crash at around 2:30am on Monday. The SUV lost control and ran into a freeway pier beam, killing two people, believed to be Gladney and Palacios. 

‘The crash involved 2 vehicles,’ read a statement from police provided to DailyMail.com.

‘Preliminary info indicates the white vehicle was speeding and clipped the second vehicle from behind. The white vehicle lost control and struck the pier beam of the Woodall Rogers Freeway. The second vehicle was occupied by two occupants and they were not injured. The WB Woodall Rogers Freeway service road at Allen Street was blocked for the accident investigation.’

Police are expected to release more details on Tuesday.

Palacios’s brother, John, described her as ‘a loving, selfless person’ in an interview with NBC

Gladney’s agent and the Cardinals have both confirmed his death.

‘We are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney’s passing,’ read a Cardinals statement. ‘Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who are mourning this tremendous loss.’

Monday’s crash occurred on the service road of Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Dallas.

Gladney was a standout at TCU before being taken by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie, but was released in 2021 when he was charged for assaulting a woman.   

He was later acquitted on that charge, and subsequently signed with the Cardinals.  

‘We are asking prayers for the family and privacy at this most difficult time,’ agent Brian Overstreet said.

In its statement, the NFL described Gladney’s death was a ‘tragic loss.’

Gladney is survived by a one-year child from a previous relationship, according to posts on his social media accounts.  

Mercedes Palacios was honored on Facebook by Ride4Health Cherry Tree