My heart goes out to each and everyone who has lost a loved one during this tragic event.
AIKEN --- Two days after a three-vehicle wreck took the lives of five people in Aiken County, family members were finalizing funeral arrangements.
Funerals for Crystal Lyell, 26, and Michael Lott, 40, will be held Friday in Aiken County. A viewing for the two will take place from 6-8 tonight at Napier Funeral Home in Graniteville, said Mitzi Nichols, an aunt to Ms. Lyell and Mr. Lott.
Ms. Nichols said Mr. Lott's 17-year-old son, Joshua Lott, will be buried later in the week in Tennessee, where he lived. Ms. Nichols said she wasn't aware of funeral arrangements for a fourth victim and friend of Ms. Lyell and Mr. Lott, Mark Daniels, 33, of Windsor.
Services for 4-year-old Zachary Taylor, will take place Saturday in Alabama, where he lived with his father, Josh Taylor.
Authorities said the wreck occurred Monday night on New Holland Road as a car driven by Ms. Lyell crossed the center line, striking two vehicles. Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton has said alcohol is suspected as a factor.
On Wednesday, Mr. Taylor, of Anniston, Ala., said how he had brought his son to the Aiken area this past weekend to stay with his mother, Ms. Lyell, for a couple of weeks. He said that when he visited the area he spent time at the same swimming spot where the five are believed to have been just prior to Monday's wreck. He said the area is known as Buster's Bridge.
Mr. Taylor said he was supposed to see his son just before Father's Day, but Wednesday he was arranging his funeral and reflecting on a son who loved baseball, hunting and fishing.
"He never met a stranger. It didn't matter who it was," he said.
Mr. Taylor said his son's funeral will be at Iron City Baptist Church in Anniston at 10 a.m. Saturday. Viewing will be Friday at Dryden Funeral Home in Heflin, Ala.
Ms. Nichols said Ms. Lyell's funeral be at 1 p.m. Friday at Montmorenci Baptist Church in Montmorenci. Michael Lott's funeral will take place at 4 p.m. Friday at the Napier Funeral Home chapel.
Ms. Nichols said that in lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to make monetary donations to help with funeral expenses because Ms. Lyell and Michael Lott didn't have life insurance. She said donations can be made to Napier Funeral Home.
Flowers or monetary donations can be sent to the Taylor family through Dryden Funeral Home.
Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
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