Caleb Kennedy: former 'American Idol' star arrested in fatal drunk-driving crash

Teenage country singer accused of killing one person in crash that involved alcohol

Authorities said the 17-year-old was driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into private property, killing a 54-year-old man. Getty Images

Former American Idol star Caleb Kennedy was arrested on Tuesday and accused of drunkenly driving his vehicle into a building in South Carolina, killing one person, US media outlets report.

Authorities said the 17-year-old was driving his pickup truck when he crashed into private property. Police identified the victim as 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris, who was transported to a hospital and later died.

The fatal crash occurred about 24 kilometres from Kennedy's home.

The teenage country singer was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death and is being held at a detention centre in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, local media outlets said.

He faces up to 25 years in prison if he is charged as an adult.

Kennedy competed on the 19th season of American Idol and was considered a front-runner after making it to the final five.

With two weeks remaining, Kennedy dropped out of the competition after a video of him sitting near someone wearing what appeared to be a Ku Klux Klan hood circulated online. He later posted an apology.

“There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,” he said in an Instagram post.