Keller coach injured, wife killed in wrong-way crash with suspected drunk driver
A Keller Independent School District coach and his daughter were injured, and his wife was killed in a wrong-way crash with a suspected drunk driver early Sunday in Fort Worth, officials said.
Members of the community gathered at the Keller ISD Athletic Complex on Monday night to pray for Spencer Elliott and his family. Spencer Elliott teaches anatomy and physiology at Keller High School, according to the staff directory, and serves as an assistant football and softball coach for the district.
A Dodge Ram traveling south in the northbound lanes of Boat Club Road just after midnight hit the Elliott family’s Ford Expedition head on, according to Fort Worth police. Spencer Elliott and the couple’s younger daughter, 12-year-old Allie, were seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Spencer’s wife, Brytni Elliott, died at the scene.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident involving Coach Elliot and his family,” Keller ISD Athletic Director Eric Persyn said in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
“Keller High and the entire Keller ISD community is rallying behind him as he recovers and grieves the devastating loss of his wife. Coach Elliot is a dedicated educator, mentor, and role model whose impact is felt both in the classroom and on the field. During this incredibly difficult time, we want to extend our deepest condolences to his family and ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts and prayers.”
The Elliotts’ oldest daughter and son weren’t involved in the accident. Friends took to social media to request prayers for the family, and organized a fundraiser through GiveSendGo. Azle High School Powerlifting also has organized a fundraiser.
Brytni Elliott celebrated her 37th birthday a week before the crash, according to social media posts. She joined JPS Health Network in 2021, most recently serving as lead nurse and director of nursing at Tarrant County correctional facilities, according to JPS spokesperson Brian Brooks.
“(Brytni Elliott) was a valued leader who made a lasting impact through her dedication to patients, her leadership, and the support she provided to her colleagues,” Brooks said in a statement.
“She was known for her compassion, her leadership, and her ability to lift others up — whether in her workplace, her community, or in the lives of her children and friends,” friends wrote on the GiveSendGo fundraising site.
Friends described Brytni as a beautiful person who worked hard to achieve her dreams.
“She was such an incredible momma with the sweetest soul,” one woman posted.
The father and daughter face a long recovery, and Spencer has undergone multiple surgeries, according to the fundraising post.
Spencer is a veteran who is in the Navy Reserves and also coaches youth baseball teams, according to the GiveSendGo post. “For the past five years he has poured his heart into mentoring young athletes through the NTX Knights and FW Cats baseball organizations. Beyond the field, he has led community service efforts, inspired young men to give back, and built bonds that will last a lifetime.”
Wrong-way driver hospitalized, may face charges
The driver of the Dodge Ram was also critically injured in the crash. He’s currently under investigation on suspicion of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, police told the Star-Telegram on Tuesday.
Police haven’t released the suspect’s name and said he hasn’t been arrested yet due to his injuries.
Keller ISD officials told the Star-Telegram in a statement that they were aware of the crash but weren’t able to share further information “out of respect for the privacy of the family.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the family during this difficult time,” the statement reads.
High school sports editor Charles Baggarly contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM.
