A routine traffic stop in Aiken County spiraled into a deadly crash Thursday night, claiming the life of a 16-year-old Barnwell County boy and leaving a trail of twisted metal, smoke, and unanswered questions.
Authorities say the crash occurred just minutes after a deputy with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a gray 2014 Ford Fusion near the intersection of Sheraton Drive and Atomic Road at approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The deputy had clocked the car driving 72 in a 55 mph zone.
According to law enforcement, the vehicle initially complied, pulling onto the shoulder of Sheraton Drive. But the moment quickly escalated. The deputy, after learning the driver had no license, asked for the keys. Instead, the car surged forward as the driver fled.
Deputies gave chase but quickly lost sight of the vehicle, before terminating the pursuit near Old Jackson Highway.
Moments later, the Fusion barreled through a red light at the intersection near the Kimberly-Clark plant and collided with a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. When deputies arrived, they found the Fusion engulfed in flames.
A Desperate Rescue. Body cameras captured the frantic moments as deputies and first responders raced toward the burning car. Smoke rolled across the pavement. One female passenger had escaped and was seen fleeing the scene on foot, a sheriff’s report says. She was quickly detained.
Inside the car, the scene was far more dire. Three males were trapped. Deputies, joined by arriving units, worked to pull them from the wreckage.
Among them was Jaquavis Baptiste, a 16-year-old from Elko in Barnwell County, who had been riding in the front passenger seat. He was still alive when EMS transported him to Wellstar MCG Health in Augusta — but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m. Thursday, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.
His autopsy is scheduled for next week in Newberry.
Guns in the Wreckage. As firefighters doused the final flames, deputies recovered multiple firearms from inside the wrecked Fusion. It’s unclear at this time who the weapons belonged to or why they were in the vehicle.
The driver’s identity has not yet been released. Other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. Their conditions have not been made public.
The investigation is ongoing, led by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, S.C. Highway Patrol, and the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).
