Drivers Identified in Separate Fatal Accidents in Aiken County

Authorities are investigating two fatal accidents in Aiken County on Saturday.

The first was reported at 1:30 a.m. on Chalk Bed Road near Breezy Hill Road in Graniteville.  Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables says 36-year-old Stephen Hicks of Augusta, lost control of his pickup truck.  The vehicle ran off the side of the road, hit a tree and flipped over.   Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later in the day, another single vehicle accident was reported in Graniteville.  This one was reported at 1:18 p.m. on Ascauga Lake Road near Sleepy Hollow Lane.  Ables says 49-year-old Francisco Candido-Aviles lost control of his pickup truck, ran off the road and struck a tree.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  The crash is under investigation and toxicology analysis is pending.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating both accidents.