An Augusta man was killed early Saturday after running off the road and hitting a tree in Graniteville.
Stephen A. Hicks, 36, was unrestrained when he ran off Chalk Bed Road around 1:45 a.m. Saturday in his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicle overturned, and he died on the scene from blunt force trauma, Coroner Darryl Ables said.
In an unrelated fatality, a Newberry man was killed when his Chevrolet Silverado truck struck a tree after the driver ran off the road around 1:17 p.m. Saturday on Ascauga Lake Road near Sleepy Hollow Lane in Graniteville. That driver’s identity has not been released pending notification of his family.
Hicks’ death ends what seemed like a promising turnaround for the former Graniteville resident. He spent many years of his adult life in jail for drugs, weapons and theft charges. But he was released this year on orders that he undergo rehab with Ray-Toms House, also known as Broken Outreach Advantage.
Founded in 2019 in South Augusta by Dennis and Amanda Lamb, the non-profit facility mentors those in drug and alcohol addiction. Broken Outreach Advantage offers free housing and Christian-based services to help them lead a productive and fulfilled life.
In a June message on Facebook, Hicks’ mother wrote how much she loved him.
Hicks responded, “Thanks Mom I love you too and I’m out and at rehab. God has been good to me and I’m blessed. I’ll try to get by there to see y’all when I can ok.”
His mother responded, “Ok son let this time really mean something. Life too short u r better than that and I’m proud of the strong man u r mom.”
The Coroner’s Office along with S.C. Highway Patrol are continuing with the investigation into the fatality. Toxicology analysis is pending.
