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JOSH ZIMMERThe family is forming a college fund in the memory of a boy killed in a crash Friday.
TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Matthew Keenan was a typical 10-year-old boy who loved sports, Spider-Man, his family and a little, golden mutt named Percy.
He also dreamed of going to college, his family said at a teary-eyed news conference Tuesday night. Like every other aspect of his life, however, thoughts of a university degree are a memory now.
On Friday, Matthew was killed coming home from Bellamy Elementary School for the weekend. Sheriff's deputies say an 18-year-old driving a stolen pickup plowed into the car his mother, Noelle Keenan, was driving on Waters Avenue. She and 5-year-old Joseph Cado survived. Matthew died at St. Joseph's Hospital.
"He was a good-hearted, 10-year-old boy. Loved everybody," Richard Keenan, one of his uncles, said.
Raymond McKay, with a record of convictions, is in the Hillsborough County jail on charges that include vehicular homicide.
Richard Keenan, 41, took the role of family spokesman as his brother, Ronald Keenan, 39, rubbed the shoulder of Matthew's sobbing father, Brian Keenan, 33. Since the accident, he said the community has offered condolences, including 300 to 400 condolence letters written by Bellamy students. Although the family is struggling to make sense of the tragedy, members felt they needed to thank people for the well wishes, he said.
Keenan said the family was forming a special college fund in Matthew's name.
The fund "is the best way we know how to remember a fun, loving and dearly missed young man," Keenan said.
Matthew also leaves behind his 4-year-old sister, Brie Ann.
Despite efforts to focus on the grieving, the brothers could not hide their anger at McKay.
According to the Sheriff's Office, McKay stole the Dodge pickup Friday afternoon but was seen by the owner, Jeffrey Undorf, as he rode home with a friend. Although he initially lost sight of McKay, Undorf found him again after the accident at Waters Avenue and Hanley Road. He followed the pickup until McKay bailed out of the truck before it crashed it against a wall near Northbridge Boulevard.
Undorf confronted McKay, who said he had a gun and fled, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputy Jason Connell arrested McKay after a chase.
McKay "committed a crime against our family," Richard Keenan said.
The family also wishes Undorf would not have chased McKay, he said.
The family said the funeral services will be private.
Those wishing to contribute to the college fund can send donations to Barr, Murman, Tonelli, Slother & Sleet at 201 E Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1700, 33602.