Caiden Miles McGuff, a 16-year-old student and baseball player at Camden High School in South Carolina, lost his life on July 29, 2025, after his pickup truck crashed on Ridgeway Road in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported that the single-vehicle accident occurred around 5 p.m. on Ridgeway Road near Richardson Boulevard, approximately four miles east of Elgin, South Carolina. McGuff was driving a 2004 Ford pickup truck heading west when it veered off the left side of the road, struck a phone box, overturned, and collided with a tree in the wooded area.
Both McGuff and a female passenger were transported by emergency medical services to Kershaw Medical Center Emergency Room. McGuff succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The condition of the female passenger is yet to be disclosed, as per Kershaw County Coroner David West.
McGuff, a rising junior, was a standout pitcher for the Camden High School Bulldogs varsity baseball team. He advanced from the junior varsity team as a freshman to the varsity team in his sophomore year.
In April 2025, McGuff was recognized as Boys Spring Sports Athlete of the Week by The State newspaper after completing a game for the Bulldogs.
Camden High School Principal Rose Montgomery issued a statement honoring McGuff after his passing. “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 stated.
Montgomery highlighted the community’s close-knit nature in dealing with the loss. The school is making efforts to support students and staff, with plans to provide counselors and social workers for as long as needed.
The Camden High School baseball team expressed their sorrow on social media regarding McGuff’s death. In their statement, they shared their heartbreak and gratitude for the time spent with him, extending thoughts and prayers to McGuff’s family and the baseball community.
McGuff is survived by his parents, Amanda Lynn Mossor McGuff and Matthew Ralph McGuff, a sister, and three brothers. The Camden community and South Carolina high school baseball network have shown considerable support following the news of his death.
A Celebration of Life service for McGuff was organized at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Malvern Hill Baptist Church, located at 1514 Malvern Hill Drive in Camden, South Carolina. Reverend Dr. Craig Thompson led the service. The family requested that memorial donations be directed to the Camden High School Baseball Team at 1022 Ehrenclou Drive, Camden, South Carolina, 29020.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash to determine why the vehicle left the roadway. No initial conclusions have been shared regarding factors contributing to the incident.
McGuff’s death is one among several fatal accidents in Kershaw County in 2025. South Carolina reported at least 484 traffic fatalities by mid-July 2025, according to traffic safety data. Despite advancements in vehicle safety and road design, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to cite traffic accidents as a key public safety issue in South Carolina.