Ex-High School Football Standout Dies at 23

A young Minnesota athlete with a bright future was killed in a devastating early morning crash after authorities say the man behind the wheel veered into oncoming traffic before smashing into a power pole.

Keyshawn Michael Beckom, 23, a former standout wide receiver at Duluth Denfeld High School, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Saturday, May 16, wreck near Culver Township, about 25 miles west of Duluth.

The driver, 24-year-old Lee Arthur Green of Duluth, survived with non-life-threatening injuries, but now faces serious legal trouble. He was booked into the St. Louis County jail on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, according to jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.

The crash happened around 3:45 a.m. on Highway 2, when investigators say Green was driving a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound before entering oncoming traffic and losing control of the SUV.

The vehicle then slammed into a power pole with enough force to snap it in half, according to an accident report cited by The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Beckom, who was riding in the SUV, did not survive.

The tragedy is even more disturbing because Green reportedly had a troubling history behind the wheel. Bring Me The News reported that Green was driving on a revoked license at the time of the crash.

Court records also show Green had two prior convictions for driving with a revoked license. In 2024, he was convicted of DWI and carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol, according to the outlet.

For Beckom’s family, friends, teammates, and former classmates, the crash marks the heartbreaking loss of a young man remembered for his talent, energy, and connection to his community.

Beckom made a name for himself on the football field at Duluth Denfeld High School, where he earned first-team all-district honors as a wide receiver in 2020. He later continued his playing career at Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range in Virginia, Minnesota.

After his death, his former high school honored him on Facebook, remembering the impact he made both on and off the field.

The case now adds to a painful and familiar national conversation about alleged drunk driving, repeat offenses, and whether enough is being done to keep dangerous drivers off the road before tragedy strikes.

For Beckom’s loved ones, however, the legal process cannot undo what happened in the dark hours of Saturday morning.

A promising young life is gone, a community is grieving, and a 24-year-old driver is now under investigation after a crash that authorities say never should have happened.