A 28-year-old South Carolina man was killed Sunday after being involved in a single-vehicle traffic accident in Aiken County.
Justin Ryan Heinz, of Greenwood, was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m. Sunday at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.
Mr. Heinz died during surgery after the sport utility vehicle he was driving crashed on Interstate 20 near the mile 17 marker. The crash occurred at 6:49 p.m., Mr. Carlton said in a news release.
Mr. Heinz was westbound on the interstate when he entered the median. His vehicle overturned and ejected him.
His passenger was not ejected and was taken to MCG with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Mr. Heinz was driving a late-model GMC sport utiity. They were headed to Mobile, Ala., where they worked as pipe fitters for Thompson Construction.
Mr. Heinz died from body trauma. The vehicle caught fire after the crash, but the fire did not contribute to Mr. Heinz's death or his passenger's injuries.
The crash is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the coroner's office. A toxicology report on Mr. Heinz is pending.
The accident was the 29th fatal crash in Aiken County this year.
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I am the person who held Justin's hand and talked to him at the accident. To his family, I am so sorry for your loss.
man, i-20 is dangerous. almost better off on the back roads and taking your chances with a deer and local cops.
Thousands of people travel I-20 every day and have no problems with wrecking. Personal responsibility is a terrible fact of life we all have to deal with.
Personal responsibility is a major contributing factor...but Aiken County remains the deadliest county in this area concerning traffic fatalities, causing me to believe that there is more at play than personal responsibility...it's time to make the roadways safer by any means necessary. My thoughts and prays to the family.
Good point, ss. Ever make the I-20 run from Columbia to Augusta? It's boring enough to make a meth freak nod.
I-20 has always been a death trap, no matter what area you're traveling. Speed plays a factor in many of them, careless driving, we usually never know what causes half of them.
Thoughts and prayers to justins family and friends.
Thank you to people like yourself mpetrea, sometimes a kind onlooker is the last person the dying person see's or hear's. I am sure your being there brought Justin some much needed comfort.
To the wonderful person who held my brother's hand at the scene of the accident: please ease the family's mind and give us additional information. I can be contacted at hollister9-25@myspace.com. If anyone has any information whatsoever, it will be greatly appreciated if you will contact us. Thank you for all of your condolenses.