Durham, NC (September 13, 2026) - Keegan Brooks, a 9-year-old fourth grader at Oak Grove Elementary School, died after his bicycle collided with an SUV at the intersection of Knightwood Drive and Bengel Drive in Durham.

Durham police said the crash occurred at approximately 12:43 p.m. Sunday in the Ridgefield neighborhood in eastern Durham. According to investigators, a woman driving a 2020 Hyundai Palisade was traveling north on Knightwood Drive as Brooks turned onto that road from Bengel Drive. Police described the collision as head-on.

Brooks sustained life-threatening injuries. Police said lifesaving measures were attempted before he was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver stayed at the scene. No charges had been filed as of Sunday night, and police reported that the Durham Police Department Traffic and Crash Team was investigating the collision.

His mother, Courtney Brooks, said Keegan had left home to ride bicycles with a friend before baseball practice. The collision happened near the family’s home, and the friend alerted her afterward.

Durham Public Schools identified Brooks on Monday. Principal Danielle Howard notified Oak Grove families of his death and announced additional counselors for Tuesday, including support from the district’s Student Support Services team. Her message addressed children’s possible confusion about death and included bereavement guidance in the email sent to families.

Courtney Brooks also reported that the family was planning a Sunday service and had been in contact with Keegan’s friends, teachers and principal.

Give a Child Room to Ask About Keegan Brooks

Oak Grove Elementary told families that Keegan Brooks had died after a bicycle collision, and Principal Danielle Howard addressed how children may receive that news. A young classmate may hear the announcement yet still expect Keegan to return. Howard encouraged factual information, emotional support and room for children to talk. The immediate conversation at home can begin with what the child believes happened, rather than an adult's detailed account of the crash.

Questions may change over time. A child might first ask whether Keegan will be in class, then later ask why people are sad or whether something similar could happen to a friend. Howard's message invited families to discuss their beliefs and children's feelings. A parent can answer the question actually asked, avoid filling gaps in the traffic investigation and return to the subject when the child raises it again. The school included bereavement guidance that adults can consult while preparing for those conversations.

Keegan’s family may need a different conversation from the one Oak Grove parents have with classmates. They can ask a bicycle accident lawyer which circumstances of the bicycle collision are confirmed and which still require an answer before considering legal options. The school’s bereavement guidance remains the appropriate starting point for supporting its students.

Return to the Conversation as Questions Change

A parent does not need to settle every question in one talk. Start with the child's understanding, give a clear age-appropriate answer and allow room for a different question later. If the child is struggling at school, bring that specific concern to school staff and ask what support is currently available. The counselors announced immediately after Keegan's death were part of the school's response at that time, not a verified ongoing schedule.

For Keegan's family, support from neighbors and classmates has a different purpose from investigating the collision or considering legal options. Rosensteel Fleishman can discuss which confirmed collision details are available and which questions need a later police update, so a family can separate what is known from what still needs an answer.