Two separate motorcycle crashes claimed the lives of two men in Aiken County over the Christmas holiday.
According to Aiken County Chief Deputy Coroner Eric Ramey, the Coroner’s Office responded at approximately 12:48 a.m. Thursday to the area of Augusta Road and Atomic Road in reference to a single vehicle motorcycle accident.
The victim was identified as 31-year-old Edgar A. Gonzalez Paz of Aiken.
Investigators said Gonzalez Paz was operating a 2017 Honda CB500 traveling west on Augusta Road and approaching the on ramp to Atomic Road when the motorcycle left the roadway and entered the grass median. He was ejected from the motorcycle during the crash.
Gonzalez Paz was pronounced deceased at the scene at 1:03 a.m. from injuries sustained in the collision. The Coroner’s Office and the S.C. Highway Patrol are continuing the investigation.
Later that evening, Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables reported a second fatal motorcycle crash. At approximately 9:02 p.m., the Coroner’s Office responded to Wellstar MCG to investigate the death of 50-year-old John A. Robins of Warrenville following a motorcycle crash that occurred earlier in the evening.
The crash happened at approximately 8:29 p.m. on the 1200 block of Georgia Avenue in North Augusta. Robins was operating a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling north on Georgia Avenue when the motorcycle left the roadway to the right and struck a curb.
The impact ejected Robins from the motorcycle, causing him to strike a utility pole. Aiken County EMS transported him to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries at 8:54 p.m.
The Coroner’s Office and the North Augusta Department of Public Safety are continuing the investigation into that crash. Toxicology analysis is pending in both cases, which is standard in fatalities.
Note: If you have photos of the victims to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.
