Across the area

Man struck chief while fleeing, authorities say

Authorities arrested an Augusta man accused of striking a Williston police chief and eluding police from Aiken County to Richmond County on Saturday morning.

Demarius Smith, 21, will be charged with at least two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, according to the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.

Police say Mr. Smith was driving his Ford Explorer off the U.S. Highway 1 exit near Martintown Road in North Augusta at 12:42 a.m. when he approached a DUI checkpoint. When officers told him to stop, he drove through and toward a group of officers, the report says. Officers began firing at his vehicle.

The suspect struck Williston Police Chief Roger Kaney while fleeing, authorities say. He was treated for minor injuries at Aiken Regional Hospital and was released.

Investigators found Mr. Smith at a hotel about 1 p.m.

Motorcyclist killed in accident on interstate

A motorcyclist was killed Saturday morning after striking a vehicle on Interstate 20 near the Belair Road exit in Columbia County, according to the county coroner.

Larry Thomas White, 61, of Gainesville, Ga., was pronounced dead at the scene about 9:45 a.m., said Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins.

The accident occurred near the exit 194 overpass on I-20 at about 9 a.m., Mr. Collins said.

Mr. White didn't see slow-moving traffic ahead in a construction zone, said Columbia County sheriff's Sgt. A.J. Lyons. He braked, was thrown from the bike and hit the back of a car, Sgt. Lyons said. No one else was injured.

4 arrested in armed robbery of gas station

Four people were arrested Saturday over an armed robbery at an Aiken gas station.

Dayfan Fuller, 24, of Edna Street, North Augusta; Jerry Dobbs, 21, of Mount Canaan Drive, Trenton; Kenneth Wayne Jones, 17, of Seymore Drive, North Augusta; and a 16-year-old were charged with armed robbery, according to the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

The men are accused of robbing Greg's Gas Plus in the 1600 block of Richland Avenue East about 12:20 a.m. Saturday.