EASLEY — A 10-year-old fourth grader at Crosswell Elementary lost his life early Sunday morning following a car accident on U.S. 178 in Anderson County that left his father in intensive care.
Keelan Preston Cruz Odom was pronounced dead at Greenville Memorial Hospital, while his father, 32-year-old Joey Kelley, was transported to AnMed Health in Anderson and placed in ICU.

According to S.C. Highway Patrol officers, Kelley’s Jeep veered off the road, before he overcorrected and crossed into the path of an oncoming SUV. After the collision, the Jeep careened down an embankment and both of the vehicles occupants were ejected.

Neither Odom nor Kelley were wearing seatbelts, according to troopers.

The driver of the SUV was also taken to AnMed, where he was treated and released.
No charges have been filed in the accident, but highway patrol officers are investigating whether alcohol played a role in the wreck.

“Along with everyone in our district, I am greatly saddened over the tragic death of a Crosswell Elementary student over the weekend,” School District of Pickens County Superintendent Henry Hunt said in a release Monday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Keelan’s family and friends.  We are also keeping the many Crosswell students and staff in our prayers.”

Counselors from other local elementary schools were at Crosswell on Monday to help students and staff deal with the grief and loss.

“The Crosswell community is deeply saddened by the loss of Keelan,” said Traci T. Boyles, Keelan’s principal at Crosswell. “He was a beautiful student inside and out and he will truly be missed by his classmates and teachers.”

His fourth-grade teacher, Nicki Cothran, described Keelan as a hardworking student who always gave his best effort.

“He was well-liked by his classmates and always had a smile for everyone,” Cothran said.
The memorial service for Keelan will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Oak Hill United Methodist Church. His family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.

Besides his father, Keelan is survived by his mother, Sabrina Michelle Fuller, two brothers, James Nicholas Jordan, Jr. and Chase Odom, and grandparents Clay and Pat Cantrell.