A Jackson man who suffered devastating injuries in a motorcycle crash last month has died, according to Aiken County Chief Deputy Coroner Eric Ramey.
Austin William Zabilowicz, 31, passed away at 4:52 p.m. Friday at the Joseph M. Still Burn Unit at Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta, where he had been receiving treatment since the crash.
The collision occurred on May 16 around 3:30 a.m. on Whiskey Road near Chukker Creek Road, when Zabilowicz, operating a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, struck the rear of a 2016 Hyundai sedan. The crash caused the motorcycle to catch fire, pinning Zabilowicz beneath it and leaving him with severe burns over 90% of his body.
In the weeks following the accident, Austin’s brother, Josh Schack, shared the severity of his condition in a GoFundMe post:
“On May 16th, my family’s life changed forever… By the grace of God, Austin survived the accident. He currently is on life support but each day his body gains strength and his outlook for survival becomes more promising.”
The post went on to detail Austin’s long and expensive recovery journey, which included months in intensive care, multiple surgeries, and extensive rehabilitation.
Despite initial signs of strength and hope, Austin ultimately succumbed to his injuries after more than a month of fighting for his life.
On Friday, Schack posted this: “Ace went home to be with the Lord today. We are celebrating the Hope of the Resurrection that we have in Jesus. This is the best day of Austin’s life. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Jesus Saves.”
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office and the Aiken Department of Public Safety Traffic Reconstruction Team continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
