Police say former Chargers safety Terrence Kiel has died in a car accident.

Police Sgt. Alan Hayward says the 27-year-old Kiel was driving alone in a Chevy Sedan at about 10:15 Friday night in San Diego’s upscale Scripps Ranch neighborhood when he hit a wall and was thrown from his car.

Hayward said Kiel was barely breathing when paramedics got to him and he died about an hour later.

Kiel played four years in the NFL from 2003-2006, all with the Chargers.

In February 2007 he pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor drug charges for shipping prescription cough syrup to Texas, the most significant of several scrapes with the law.

He was released by the team after his plea.