Man dies in singular car crash off U.S. 63

By Kathleen Pointer

Published Oct. 30, 2007

A 65-year-old man died on Thursday after his car crashed into a tree off U.S. 63. James L. Kellett died shortly after he arrived at University Hospital.

"He ran off the road a couple different times before he actually crossed the median," Columbia police officer Alan Hulett said. "There was either some intoxication involved, and there is no evidence of that, or there was some medical issue going on."

According to a news release from the Columbia Police Department, Kellett was northbound on U.S. 63, just south of the Route AC/Grindstone Parkway overpass, when his 2005 Lincoln Navigator hit a small post east of the road. Shortly after, he crossed the center median into the southbound lanes of the roadway. The Lincoln Navigator went into a field, where the car crashed into trees and the engine caught fire.

Columbia Fire Department responded to the fire at approximately 2:42 p.m. and removed Kellett from the vehicle. An ambulance transported him to University Hospital.

No one else was injured, and Kellett's vehicle did not hit any other vehicles while crossing the median.

Hulett said he believes that Kellett's death is most likely the result of the impact and that a medical condition might have been involved.

"A witness said that it appeared to her that he was slumped over just prior to crossing the median," Hulett said. "It would lead you to believe he had a medical condition of some sort."

Hulett said Kellett was still alive when he was transported to the hospital. Hospital staff contacted Kellett's family later that evening.

Hulett said the police department is not aware if Kellett was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. An autopsy report has not been released.