27-05-2025
Second person dies from injuries sustained in Aiken County crash after driver allegedly fled traffic stop
BEECH ISLAND, S.C. (WJBF) – A second person has died from injuries sustained in a fatal vehicle crash that took place this month, the Aiken County Coroner's Office said Tuesday.
According to the coroner's office, 21-year-old Syntavion Priester of Williston was pronounced deceased at 12:34 p.m. at Wellstar MCG Health on May 27 from injuries sustained in a motor-vehicle collision on May 15 at 8:40 p.m.
Priester was a rear seat passenger in the 2014 Ford Fusion that allegedly sped away from a traffic stop on Sheraton Drive. Authorities say the driver of the vehicle disregarded a traffic light at the intersection of Old Jackson Highway and Sheraton Drive, before it struck a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban that was traveling south on Old Jackson Highway.
The front seat passenger of the Fusion, 16-year-old Jaquavis Baptiste of Elko, also died as a result of the crash.
The coroner's office along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) are continuing to investigate.
An autopsy will be held Wednesday in Newberry.
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