One small Aiken County community is rallying behind a 4-year-old boy who lost his life Sunday in a tragic car accident.
Zaviaion Stewart, 4, was fatally struck by a car Sunday morning while crossing the highway near Monetta Town Hall near a park, where he was headed with his big sister, authorities said.
Now, a friend of the family is raising funds to help them cope. Amber Rauton set up a GoFundMe page for the son of Danielle Stewart and Byron Stewart.
“They have already been through the unimaginable pain of losing their daughter and have now had their baby boy sent to heaven to be with her,” Rauton said on Facebook.
MORE: Augusta residents turn out in support for ‘Village of Summerville’ cityhood
MORE: Confederate group sues Augusta Commission to keep all monuments and names intact
Zaviaion was with his siblings around 11:40 a.m. Sunday when the accident occurred on Columbia Highway North near Academy Street, Coroner Darryl Ables said.
“The child attempted to cross Columbia Highway and was struck by a northbound Chevrolet SUV,” the coroner said in a press release. “The child, identified as Zaviaion Stewart, was pronounced dead on scene from injuries sustained in the collision and will be autopsied in Newberry.”
An Aiken County sheriff’s deputy in the area was the first to reach the tragedy followed by first responders. The S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck, which sparked a makeshift memorial of flowers and toys.
The children lived in the area and were headed home when the accident occurred, Ables said.
The driver of the 2016 Chevrolet SUV and a passenger were not injured, according to SCHP Trooper Nick Pye.
