BHP High School student killed, another hurt in Anderson County crash

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A 17-year-old mother died Tuesday morning in an Anderson County crash.

The crash happened on Clamp Drive at Ernest Lane near Belton around 11:13 a.m., according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Troopers said a pickup truck was headed westbound on Clamp Drive when it ran off the right side of the road, overcorrected, and ran off the left side of the road before hitting a tree.

The passenger, 17-year-old Abbigail “Grace” Callaham, died at the scene of the crash while the driver was taken to AnMed Health Medical Center for his injuries, according to the Anderson County Coroner’s Office.

The coroner said a large bird, possibly a turkey, flew out of the woods and hit the windshield of the truck and caused the crash.

“Her dad was grief stricken,” said Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore. “Abbigail’s 12 year old sister was also on the scene. It just breaks our heart to see them suffering like that. It’s just a tragedy.”

According to the coroner’s office, Callaham was the mother of a four-month-old girl.

Anderson School District 2 confirmed that both victims attended Belton-Honea Path High School.

The district said Callaham was a junior at BHP.

The driver of the truck, senior Thomas Kennedy, is in critical condition at the hospital, according to a district statement. Kennedy and Callaham were in a relationship and had the child together.

Extra counselors will be at BHP to provide grief support to students and staff.

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