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How about "A report on the extent of their injuries was not released."? Did anyone going to J school actually learn basic sentence construction first? The basic lack of proofing and copyediting is becoming an insult even to ordinary readers.
AIKEN – The four adults and one child killed in an Aiken County wreck Monday night were heading home in a compact Saturn after a day out on the water when the collision occurred.
“They had been swimming all day,” said Mitzi Nichols, of Beech Island, an aunt to two of the victims. She said they were at a swimming spot at a bridge in Aiken county. “I think they must have been heading home.”
All five – one of whom wasn’t related – were killed in the three-vehicle crash on New Holland Road – a two-lane road about a mile north of South Carolina Highway 302.
“All I know is that we loved them very dearly and we will miss them,” Ms. Nichols said.
On Tuesday, Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton identified those killed as Crystal Lyell, 26, of Heflin, Ala.; her son, Zachary Taylor, 4, of Heflin, Ala.; Michael Lott, 40, of Aiken; his son, Joshua Lott, 18; and Mark Daniels, 33, of Windsor, S.C.
Mr. Carlton said he believes the Lyells and the Lotts are related, adding that Mr. Daniels was a family friend.
Ms. Nichols, who is the aunt of Michael Lott and Ms. Lyell, said Ms. Lyell and Zachary had recently moved to the Aiken area from Alabama.
Friends and other family members, including Fred Wienbeck, an uncle of Michael Lott, gathered at the crash site near Couchton this morning.
Mr. Wienbeck sifted through scattered debris, including shattered glass, loose change and the face plate of a stereo from the Saturn.
Authorities said the wreck occurred around 9:30 p.m. as Ms. Lyell was driving north on New Holland Road and her vehicle crossed the centerline, striking a southbound Toyota pickup hauling farm implements.
Ms. Lyell’s vehicle spun and then struck another southbound vehicle. Two others were injured in the crash. Their conditions are unknown, and Mr. Carlton said he didn’t have their names. Their information is pending release by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Toxicology is pending, but Mr. Carlton said alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash. He said he also had heard the five who were killed had been swimming at a local creek prior to the crash, and that authorities believe alcohol might have been consumed.
Mr. Carlton said those who died were pronounced dead at the scene as a result of multiple body trauma.
He stated that Ms. Lyell, her son and Michael Lott, who was a front-seat passenger, were wearing seat belts. Ms. Lyell’s son was in a child seat.
Mr. Carlton said it will take about 10 working days for the results of Ms. Lyell’s toxicology test.
The coroner’s office and South Carolina Highway Patrol continue to investigate.
The loss of the five victims puts Aiken County’s number of fatalities for this year at 18, Mr. Carlton said. There were only 14 traffic fatalities this time last year. New Holland Road is not considered a dangerous highway location, Mr. Carlton said.
“It’s not a trouble spot,” he said. “We’ve had a couple fatal accidents in that area, but it’s not a super dangerous road.”
Excluding the Graniteville train collision that killed five people in 2004, Monday night’s fatal traffic accident is the first of it’s magnitude in close to eight years, Mr. Carlton said. In that crash, six people were killed when two vehicles in the eastbound and westbound lane collided on Interstate 20.
“Any time there’s a loss of lives it’s always a tragedy,” he said. “I’m sure it’s tough to deal with for this family to lose so many people.”
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Some past multiple fatal wrecks in Aiken County
Nov. 10, 2004: Connie Bodie and four co-workers had just finished the graveyard shift at an Avondale Mills plant and were headed home when they tried to beat a Norfolk Southern train and were killed by an ensuing collision.
Dec. 6, 1996: Wagener resident Linda Tindal, her two daughters and two grandchildren were all killed when the vehicle they were in weaved into the path of a school bus. A half-full can of beer was found in the car, and preliminary toxicology reports showed Ms. Tindal’s blood alcohol level was as much as three times the legal limit.
July 11, 2002: Three sons of Graniteville resident Michael Batchelor were killed in a wreck as one of the teens was driving his father’s Nissan pickup when it collided head-on with a car on Belvedere-Clearwater Road.
Authorities said Mr. Batchelor had bought beer for his sons and three of their friends before the July 11 crash and allowed one of his son’s to drive. Authorities said that son had been drinking. Mr. Batchelor was arrested on several charges in the case.
Comments
How about "A report on the extent of their injuries was not released."? Did anyone going to J school actually learn basic sentence construction first? The basic lack of proofing and copyediting is becoming an insult even to ordinary readers.
Flat Lux - five people were killed and all you can do is remark about proofreading and copyediting? Your insensitivity is shocking and you should be ashamed. A massive tragedy has occurred and the families need to be supported and kept in our prayers right now. I can't even imagine the grief this accident will cause.
To Tobie--Amen!
Tragic and so sensless.
I agree Tobie, especially when the one lecturing employs the same [BASIC] adjective twice in such close proximity. This annoys me almost as much as those holier-than-thou, injustice-collecting hypocrites who live at the foot of the cross every second dictating what is or is not an appropriate emotional response. The YOU HAVE TO BE NICE ALL THE TIME LAW is not recognized in every state. One day it will be and all us good unaborted, arrow-straight Christians can relax and enjoy a xanax and a sip of sisco.
Point taken on the use of "basic" in consecutive sentences. Though correct grammar, it does grate a bit. As for being insensitive, well, sorry you feel that way, but the last time I cared what a 'tobie' thought about anything was, umm, never. The current article has a great deal more information than the "breaking news' tickler that I actually commented on. Personally, I believe it is a disservice to the people involved in this sad story to use a substandard level of journalism in reporting it, and I find it very irritating. Castigating the Chronicle doesn't, as far as I can tell, constitute a lack of sympathy, just because I didn't fall all over my keyboard oozing the standard platitudes.
However, just in case family members of the victims are reading these comments, know that I empathize with you, having lost my own brother in a MVA, and wish you peace.
My prayers go out to the family. What a tradegy.
My prayers are with this family who lost another family member almost 2 months ago in a head on collision. God bless them.
A more proper headline would be "Day of drinking leads to 5 deaths" while it may be insensitive you shouldn't sugar coat the effects of drinking and driving. 5 people are dead because someone drank and drove. That's the real news. I sympathize with the family that they lost loved ones but it's time to stop sugar coating bad actions.
While the sentences could have been condensed to get the same point across, I don't see anything wrong with what Mr. Sparks wrote. If you think you can do bettr, Fiat_Lux, then get a job at the Chronicle and see how difficult it is to work under tight deadlines and demands. I think you'd change your mind. To the families of those killed, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to these people's families and friends. What a dreadful thing to have to deal with.
Debster, twerp, for many years I wrote for a metropolitan daily newspaper, was even an editor, and I KNOW I can do better. If you actually had bothered to READ, you would have seen, even just from my comment, that the article I originally commented on IS NOT POSTED ONLINE ANY LONGER, having been replaced by the current one, which is written more clearly. Drop dead.
Oh, please. You guys are completely pathetic. For years I wrote for a metropolitan daily and even edited it, and I KNOW how to write even a tickler so that it makes sense, Debslur. Get over yourself and read the comments so you have a clue about what's going on. The Augusta Chronicle has decent enough writers but, just like with me, there aren't any Pulitzers pending. DD
Fiat Lux you have wayyyy too much time on your hands!!!!!
Monday is a work day
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