Cruz Evatt Ellenburg Obituary, Death: 16-Year-Old Pickens High School Student Dies in UTV Crash

PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA — Cruz Evatt Ellenburg, a 16-year-old 10th-grade student at Pickens High School, died Sunday, September 20, 2026, after a UTV crash on private property in the Marietta community of Pickens County.

According to the Pickens County Coroner’s Office, emergency officials were called to Dalton Road shortly before 5 p.m. after the UTV went off the roadway and overturned. Ellenburg was reportedly unrestrained and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The School District of Pickens County confirmed Ellenburg’s death and described him as a valued member of the Pickens High School community. The district said counselors and additional support personnel were made available to students and staff following the tragedy.

School officials and members of the football program remembered Ellenburg as a student, athlete, teammate and friend. Pickens High School Principal Lucius Culpepper said he had already developed a relationship with the sophomore and recalled seeing him with teammates and speaking with him around school.

Football coaches also paid tribute to Ellenburg, highlighting his contributions as a player and his relationships with teammates. His coaches described him as a dedicated athlete and friend whose absence would be deeply felt within the program.

The crash remains under investigation by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office and Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. A forensic autopsy is expected to be scheduled, according to reporting citing the coroner.

Additional information about Ellenburg’s family, funeral arrangements and memorial services has not been included in the latest reports reviewed. The school district has asked the community to respect the family’s privacy while supporting students and staff affected by the loss.