A 31-year-old Greenwood police officer lost his life on Monday, May 11, 2026, when a fleeing vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and struck his patrol SUV head-on. Officer Don Keller, known as DJ, died at the scene of the crash on East Cambridge Avenue near the intersections of North Ames Street and North Hospital Street.
His K-9 partner, Vice, was inside the vehicle during the collision but escaped without injury. The incident marks the Greenwood Police Department’s first line-of-duty death in 70 years.
The pursuit began when officers attempted to stop a blue Jeep Wrangler believed to be connected to prior shootings in the area. Keller was responding to assist fellow officers when the Jeep veered into oncoming lanes around 4:54 p.m. and slammed into his Ford Explorer patrol SUV.
The Jeep caught fire following the impact. Three teenagers, ages 15, 17, and 18, were inside the fleeing vehicle and were transported to a hospital with injuries. Their current conditions have not been released.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team has taken over the investigation. Greenwood Police Chief TJ Chaudoin described the loss as an extremely difficult day for both his department and the broader Greenwood community. Photographs from the scene showed extensive damage to Keller’s vehicle, illustrating the violent force of the head-on collision.
Keller was born and raised in Ware Shoals, South Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army from 2016 to 2020 and remained an active member of the South Carolina National Guard after completing his active duty. He joined the Greenwood Police Department in March 2023 and became a K-9 handler in 2025. Colleagues remember him as someone who took his responsibilities seriously but also made time to connect with fellow officers.
Keller had been married to his wife, Alison, for ten years. The couple had a two-year-old daughter together. Friends say he spoke often about his family and looked forward to time at home when his shifts ended. Governor Henry McMaster has ordered flags at the Statehouse to be lowered to half-staff on the day of Keller’s funeral.
Senator Lindsey Graham and other state leaders have also offered condolences. The Greenwood community continues to mourn a man remembered for his willingness to put himself in harm’s way for the safety of others. Funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.