Caiden Miles McGuff, a 16-year-old student and athlete at Camden High School in South Carolina, died on July 29, 2025, following a pickup truck accident on Ridgeway Road in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 5 p.m. on Ridgeway Road near Richardson Boulevard, about four miles east of Elgin. McGuff was driving a 2004 Ford pickup traveling west when the vehicle left the left side of the roadway, hit a phone box, flipped, and then struck a tree in a wooded area.
Emergency medical teams rushed both McGuff and a female passenger to Kershaw Medical Center Emergency Room. McGuff ultimately died from his injuries at the hospital. The status of the female passenger has not yet been released, according to Kershaw County Coroner David West.
A rising junior, McGuff was recognized as a standout pitcher on the Camden High School Bulldogs varsity baseball team. He moved up from the junior varsity squad as a freshman to varsity in his second year.
In April 2025, The State newspaper honored McGuff as the Boys Spring Sports Athlete of the Week after he pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs.
Following his passing, Camden High School Principal Rose Montgomery issued a statement celebrating McGuff’s contributions. “Caiden was an outstanding student and exceptional athlete who gave everything he had on the baseball field and was a great friend to many in our Bulldog family,” Montgomery said.
She also emphasized the strength and unity of the school community in coping with the tragedy. The school is providing ongoing support to students and staff, including access to counselors and social workers for as long as needed.
The Camden High School baseball team shared their grief on social media, expressing deep heartbreak and appreciation for the time they shared with McGuff, and offered their condolences to his family and the wider baseball community.
McGuff is survived by his parents, Amanda Lynn Mossor McGuff and Matthew Ralph McGuff, along with a sister and three brothers. Many in the Camden area and throughout the South Carolina high school baseball scene have reached out with support since his passing.
A Celebration of Life service for McGuff was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Malvern Hill Baptist Church in Camden. Reverend Dr. Craig Thompson presided over the service.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash and has not released any preliminary findings.
McGuff’s passing is among multiple fatal wrecks in Kershaw County in 2025. As of mid-July, at least 484 people had died in traffic crashes across South Carolina, according to state traffic safety records. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that despite improvements in vehicle safety and road design, car accidents remain a serious public safety concern throughout South Carolina.