Across the area

Man killed as pickup pins him outside home

A 52-year-old North Augusta man died at his home Thursday after his Dodge pickup rolled down the driveway, trapping him between a door and a tree.

According to police, James Honaker, of Buckthorn Court, had moved his vehicle to allow his wife to pull out of the driveway.

As he pulled back into the inclined driveway, he apparently stopped to pick up a newspaper. It appears the vehicle rolled down the driveway and struck a pine tree, trapping Mr. Honaker next to the driver's side door. He died of asphyxiation.

Police seek man in slaying in Windsor

Aiken County authorities are looking for a Springfield, S.C., man they call a person of interest in the slaying of a man whose body was found in Windsor.

Police want to talk to Matthew Lamar Jackson Jr., of the 2200 block of Windsor Road, in the death of Marques Tyler, sheriff's Capt. Troy Elwell said.

Mr. Tyler was last seen alive Nov. 19, and his body was found covered by debris Feb. 10 off Stillwater Road.

Anyone with information can call (800) 922-9709; (803) 642-1781, ext. 1715; or Crimestoppers of the Midlands at (888) CRIME-SC.

Augusta man is killed in single-car wreck

An Augusta man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday.

James Hopkins was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, said Richmond County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen.

About 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mr. Hopkins was driving east on Bobby Jones Parkway near Gordon Highway. His car drifted to the westbound lane -- possibly because of a blowout in his right-front tire -- and crashed into a dirt embankment, Mr. Bowen said.

Mr. Hopkins was not wearing a seat belt.

MCG wins award for patient, family care

Pioneering patient- and family-centered care earned Medical College of Georgia Hospital recognition Thursday at a national meeting on patient safety.

The health system was given the Socius Award by the National Patient Safety Foundation at the group's annual Patient Safety Congress.

Patricia Sodomka, MCG's senior vice president for patient- and family-centered care, accepted the award at the meeting in Washington, D.C.

Nominators said the health system led the way in the 1990s in incorporating patient and family needs into the design of programs and buildings and continues to be a prime example of how to implement the care.

SRS contractor offers jobs to current staff

The contractor taking over Savannah River Site's liquid waste program July 1 will offer jobs to all 1,900 current Washington Savannah River Co. employees.

In a letter sent Thursday to all workers, Savannah River Remediation president and project manager Jim French said company officials spent the past several weeks evaluating the existing pool of workers before concluding that all of them will be offered jobs.

Savannah River Remediation, led by URS Washington Division, was chosen last fall by the U.S. Energy Department to manage the program.

A rival bidder, Savannah River Tank Closure, led by Parsons Corp., protested the award. The dispute was resolved March 30, when the $3.3 billion contract was officially offered to Savannah River Remediation.