Aiken County community mourns loss of teen killed in car accident

Tayron Kirkland

Date: May 18, 2023

A Graniteville teen is being remembered as a talented young man as the community mourns his loss in a tragic car accident on Wednesday.

Tayron Kirkland, 16, was driving Wednesday afternoon on Jefferson Davis Highway when he started to change lanes and struck the rear of another eastbound vehicle, according to Coroner Darryl Ables.

“The Honda overturned and ejected the driver,” the coroner said. “The driver was taken to an area hospital and was pronounced deceased (Thursday) morning from injuries sustained in the accident.”

Kirkland was unrestrained. The Coroner’s Office along with the Burnettown Police Department are continuing with the investigation, Ables said.

Kirkland was a sophomore at Midland Valley High School, where he played on the school’s basketball team. He was being mourned by hundreds online.

“Respectful young man gone entirely too soon!” said VK Curtis on Facebook.

Ayshia Bush added, “Your name will forever live on, get your rest baby boy. Praying for family and friends.”

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The Author

Greg Rickabaugh is an award-winning crime reporter in the Augusta-Aiken area with experience writing for The Augusta Chronicle and serving as publisher of The Jail Report. He also owns AugustaCrime.com. Rickabaugh is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and has appeared on several crime documentaries on the Investigation Discovery channel. He is married with two daughters.

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