Hit-and-run kills man on North Augusta road
A 24-year-old Hendersonville, N.C., man died in a two-vehicle hit-and-run wreck Saturday morning in North Augusta.
Gregorio C. Cruz died at the scene of the wreck on Atomic Road, according to a news release from Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton. The crash occurred about 3 a.m. Because he was ejected, it is unknown whether he was the driver or the passenger in the 2004 Ford Expedition.
Mr. Carlton said Mr. Cruz and another occupant were traveling north on Atomic Road when their vehicle was sideswiped by a pickup traveling south. The light brown 1992 Ford F-150 pickup swerved into the northbound lane and struck Mr. Cruz's vehicle, causing it to leave the road.
The Expedition hit a guardrail, causing Mr. Cruz and another occupant, identified by Mr. Carlton as Jorge Ribon, to be ejected.
Mr. Ribon was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital in critical condition, Mr. Carlton stated.
Damage to the pickup was extensive, and occupants abandoned the vehicle less than a mile from the crash scene and fled, according to the release.
Man fatally shoots himself in parking lot
A 22-year-old Aiken man has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, telling two onlookers to "watch this" just before fatally shooting himself, authorities said Saturday.
According to a news release from Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton, Ricky Antonio Harris was pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m. Friday after authorities found him in front of Advanced Auto Parts in Clearwater, S.C., and rushed him to Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
The release states that Mr. Harris was sitting in the passenger seat of a 1977 Chevrolet Caprice when he emptied the bullets of a .38-caliber gun onto the floor.
He then put one round back into the gun, spun the chamber, placed the weapon near his chin and told two other occupants to "watch this" before firing the bullet into his head, Mr. Carlton stated.
The death is being ruled a suicide and is being investigated by the Aiken County Coroner's Office and the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. Toxicology results are pending.
Punctured tank spills 150 gallons of oil
About 150 gallons of oil leaked from a punctured storage tank at a tire and auto shop in Evans on Saturday morning, according to a news release from Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker.
The leak occurred at Jim Whitehead Tire & Auto at 4432 Washington Road. Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue and a Haz-Mat team responded after employees discovered that a 300-gallon tank had a puncture, the release states. Emergency services officials notified the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Workers spent several hours removing tainted soil from the area, but the spill didn't pose a public hazard, Mrs. Tucker said. She said officials are investigating to see whether vandalism might have caused the puncture.
Program will cover Alzheimer's care
The Alzheimer's Association will offer the program "Alzheimer's and Dementias: Care Strategies" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 at The Gordon Club at Fort Gordon.
Virginia Bell, the author of books on dementia care, and Teepa Snow, a dementia care specialist, are on the program. The symposium costs $25 for caregivers, students and those not requiring contact/core hours, and $45 for professionals. Scholarships are available for family caregivers. For information or to register, call (706) 731-9060. The registration deadline is March 3.
Comments
Hazmat for a 150 gallon oil spill? Please! Can anyone say "over reaction"? I think my favorite part was where the "contaminated" soil was removed. What are they going to do with it? Bury it in a safe place? Return the oil to its natural habitat? Well, I guess I feel safer now.
Actually did you know that 5 gallons of diesel fuel is considered a hazardous spill. The fine for not reporting is like $1000 a gallon. They do clean the soil and replace it. I used to do Hazmat, and industrial firefighting. The good news is those big companies can always negotiate their fines down to nothing. Govt. at it's best!!
"didn't pose a public hazard, Mrs. Tucker said" Can she say anything else? From "fuming sulphuric acid clouds to industrial hyrocarbon fumes at Cross Creek School. Pam sees no problimo.
Bringing truth to the old adage: What are a redneck's last words? "Hey ya'll, watch this."
he said hello to his leetle friend.
Mugatu..and angie1961...how can y'all be so insensitive??? Granted it was a completely stupid act, but that is NO reason to be so disrepsectful.
I agree what?!?!. Comments like that are not what friends and family need to see the day after they lost their loved one no matter how stupid an act it may have been. Children die from stupid acts everyday either at their own hands or hands of their caregivers, would you still say that had it been a 6 year old or YOUR 22 year old son?
Also, someone knows who the sorry s.o.b. was who did the hit and run. Please turn the creep in. He was probably drunk. Please bring him to justice someone!!!!!
what an idiot! 1 less to deal with i guess.
"Hey,watch this!" is usually preceded by "Here,hold my beer." And to you overly sensitive people ,stupidity of such magnitude is entirely deserving of public ridicule.After all,We are not insensitive,But the late Mr. watch this certainly is.
I witnessed a young man shoot himself with a .38. He was 21 and shot himself under the left collar bone. It not only startled everyone, it made a mess of the front porch we were on. It left an awful scar and everyone teased (ridiculed) him about it for about 10 years. Then someone shot him just above the neck.
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