CHARLOTTE, NC — A Georgia man faces felony charges in a Charlotte crash that killed Queens University swimmer Keegan McKenney and seriously injured another passenger. Court documents identify the driver as Burton Elijah Brinkman, 22, of Marietta, Georgia.
Police say the crash happened in the early morning hours of May 10 along Queens Road West near Freedom Park. Investigators allege Brinkman was driving a BMW M3 when it left the road and struck a tree, trapping all three people inside the car.
McKenney, 22, died at the scene. Another passenger survived but suffered serious injuries. A judge later issued a warrant for Brinkman’s arrest on July 14.
Police say the BMW struck a tree near Freedom Park
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, the wreck occurred around 2:15 a.m. on Queens Road West. Officers say the BMW M3 drifted off the roadway before hitting a tree, causing the vehicle to trap everyone inside.
The location placed the crash close to Freedom Park, one of Charlotte’s better-known public spaces. Police have not said whether weather, speed or another factor played a role beyond the impairment allegation.
The crash immediately became fatal for McKenney. The other passenger was hurt badly enough that investigators described the injuries as serious.
Court records link Brinkman to felony death and injury charges
Brinkman is charged with felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle. Those charges are tied directly to the fatality and the injuries that police say followed the May crash.
Authorities say the warrant alleges Brinkman was driving while impaired and that the impairment caused McKenney’s death and the other passenger’s injuries. The arrest warrant was issued after investigators gathered evidence during the case.
In documents cited by police, detectives obtained Brinkman’s medical records as part of the investigation. Those records, according to the affidavit, showed a blood alcohol concentration of .18.
Investigators say blood alcohol concentration measured .18
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say the medical records they reviewed showed Brinkman had a blood alcohol concentration of .18. That level is more than twice the legal limit for driving in North Carolina.
The affidavit says detectives used those records during the investigation into the May 10 wreck. Police have not publicly detailed every step of the inquiry, but the alcohol reading is a central part of the case described in the warrant.
The allegation of impaired driving is important because it connects the crash mechanics to the criminal charges. The state must still prove the case in court.
Queens University swimmer Keegan McKenney died at the scene
McKenney was identified as a Queens University swimmer and was 22 years old. Police said he died where the crash occurred, rather than after being taken to a hospital.
The other passenger also remained part of the criminal case because investigators say that person suffered serious injuries. Court documents name the injuries as another result of the same collision.
The news adds another painful chapter for Queens University athletics, though officials were not quoted in the court documents. The case centers on the loss of a young athlete and the serious harm to another person in the vehicle.
Arrest warrant issued in July as case moved forward
A judge issued the arrest warrant for Brinkman on July 14, more than two months after the crash. That step marked a formal move forward in the criminal case after investigators completed enough work to seek the warrant.
Brinkman was later identified in the court records as the man charged in connection with the wreck. The case now rests on the felony allegations, the blood alcohol evidence and the circumstances of the early-morning crash.
No trial date or additional court outcome was included in the information provided by police and court documents. The legal process remains ongoing as the charges move ahead.