Aiken County crash kills 16-year-old after police pursuit
BEECH ISLAND, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A 16-year-old is dead after a police pursuit ended with a crash in Beech Island, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident happened on Thursday at 8:40 p.m. at the intersection of Sheraton Drive and Old Jackson Highway.
Deputies say that during a traffic stop on Sheraton Drive, they made with the driver and several other engers.
The deputy requested the driver’s information, and the driver then drove away from the traffic stop.
25-year-old bicyclist dies after traffic accident in Wagener
A bicyclist died after a collision with another vehicle in Wagener, Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables said Friday.
![[Insert Caption Here]](https://gray-wrdw-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/DPC74M4DRNFHLEQ6MZNOGSV4WQ.jpeg?auth=d897f49e2f340ef35cd3e9fa8f1e5e9362376c8f0a9278f07fba1d31c26cdecb&width=5760&height=3840&smart=true)
According to a press release, the deputy tried to catch up with the suspect car but lost sight of it and ended the pursuit.
“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 officials.
Deputies say that as they approached the intersection, they noticed that the suspect’s car was involved in a crash and on fire.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 16-year-old Jaquavious Baptiste, of Elko, South Carolina, who was a front-seat enger in the car.
Deputies on scene pulled the engers out of the car and started medical treatment along with fire suppression with the help of EMS and fire units.
Motorcycle crash shuts down stretch of Whiskey Road
The City of Aiken Department of Public Safety is on scene of a “serious traffic collision” on Whiskey Road.
Baptiste was transported to Wellstar MCG and was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.
An autopsy is scheduled for next week in Newberry.
There were injuries to the other engers in the vehicle, and they were transported to the hospital for treatment, according to the sheriff’s office.
There were multiple firearms recovered from the car as well.
The coroner’s office, along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Multi-disciplinary accident investigation team are continuing with the investigation.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
