High school baseball player killed in South Carolina car crash

A South Carolina teen baseball player tragically lost his life in a single-vehicle car crash earlier this week. 

Caiden Miles McGuff, 16, had been behind the wheel of a 2004 Ford pickup truck on Tuesday when the vehicle ran off the side of the road, collided with a phone box and flipped over, ultimately hitting a tree, Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway of the South Carolina Highway Patrol told The State. 

McGuff and a female passenger had been in the vehicle at the time and both were taken to a local hospital, where McGuff later died. 

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the accident and there wasn’t an update on the female passenger’s status. 

McGuff had been an athlete and was a member of the Camden High School baseball team. 

McGuff had thrown a complete game in April, earning The State’s Boys Spring Sports Athlete of Week. 

The teen had made the junior varsity squad as a freshman and then moved up to varsity his sophomore year. 

McGuff had recorded a 7-3 record this past season while appearing in 13 games and striking out 33 batters. 

“With a broken heart we announce the passing of Caiden McGuff from a car accident,” Camden Baseball wrote on X. “Caiden was a rising junior. We are deeply saddened but are forever thankful for the time spent with him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and our Baseball family.” 

Camden High Principal Rose Montgomery memorialized McGuff in a statement to People following his death. 

“Caiden was an outstanding student and remarkable athlete who gave his all on the field, and a wonderful friend to so many in our Bulldog family,” Montgomery said. 

“I know you will join me in keeping Caiden’s family, friends, and teammates in your thoughts and prayers during the difficult days ahead.”