Driver charged in May crash that killed Cape Elizabeth swimmer
Driver Arrested in Charlotte Crash That Took Life of Cape Elizabeth Swimmer
By Maine News Now Staff
Charlotte, N.C. — A 22‑year‑old driver from Marietta, Georgia, has been charged with felony death by vehicle in a crash that claimed the life of former Cape Elizabeth High School star swimmer Keegan McKenney. The incident occurred early Sunday morning on May 10, when a BMW driven by Brinkman veered off a Charlotte–Mecklenburg road and struck a tree, killing the 23‑year‑old swimmer and injuring a second passenger who was taken to a local hospital.
Burton Elijah Brinkman was taken into custody at a North Carolina court on September 24 and released on a $25,000 bail bond. According to the arrest warrant, Brinkman was driving “subject to an impairing substance,” a phrase that has prompted police to investigate whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the fatal collision. In addition to the death charge, court filings show Brinkman faces a felony serious injury by vehicle count for the injuries sustained by the other passenger.
Police first responded to the crash in the early hours of May 10. The Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department noted that the investigation was looking into both speed and impairment as possible factors. The vehicle, a black BMW, reportedly left the roadway and hit a tree at high speed. McKenney, a senior at Queens University and a member of the campus swim team, was a passenger in the car at the time. The other adult passenger was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries.
Keegan McKenney was a standout swimmer for Cape Elizabeth High School in Maine. He set school records in six events, including the 200‑meter individual medley, 100‑meter butterfly, 100‑meter freestyle, 200‑meter freestyle, 500‑meter freestyle, and relay races. During the 2022 state meet, McKenney earned the title of Performer of the Meet, shattered a meet record, and helped lead Cape Elizabeth to its first state championship since 2015. He was named Varsity Maine Male Swimmer of the Year that same year and earned a spot on the USA Swimming Scholastic All‑America Team.
McKenney was training in Charlotte for the upcoming swim season, balancing his studies as a senior at Queens University with his commitment to the university’s swim program, which emphasizes the individual medley and butterfly strokes.
The driver, Brinkman, was arrested in North Carolina after a search for a suspect involved in the fatal crash. While the exact nature of the “impairing substance” remains undetermined, the warrant indicates that an impairment factor was present. The case is now pending before a local court, where the charges of felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle will be formally reviewed.
Maine officials have expressed condolences to McKenney’s family. Cape Elizabeth schools are reportedly holding memorials to honor the former student’s legacy on the state’s water. The city’s high school and university swim teams are expected to keep his memory alive through upcoming competitions and tribute events.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information about the vehicle’s condition and the driver’s state at the time of the incident to come forward. The investigation remains open and will be updated as new details emerge.
