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A Barnwell County teen was killed in an Aiken County wreck.
The accident happened at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the intersection of Sheraton Drive and Old Jackson Highway in Beech Island.
“An Aiken County Sheriff’s Office deputy had initiated a traffic stop on a 2014 Ford Fusion on Sheraton Dr. at Atomic Road. As the deputy was talking with the driver, the driver sped off traveling south on Sheraton Dr. with no pursuit from the deputy. The vehicle disregarded a traffic light at the intersection and crashed into a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban that was traveling south on Old Jackson Highway,” according to a press release from Aiken County Coroner Darryl M. Ables.
Jaquavis Baptiste, 16, of Elko, was a front seat passenger in the Ford Fusion. He was transported by EMS to Wellstar MCG where he was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m., said Ables. An autopsy is scheduled for next week in Newberry.
The other three occupants of the Ford Fusion along with the driver of the Chevy Suburban were also transported to the hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released by the SCHP, but at least two of the other occupants of the Ford were juveniles, said Sgt. Tyler Tidwell with the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP).
The coroner’s office along with the SCHP and the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are continuing with the investigation.
