Man who fell off back of truck and was run over by its trailer is identified by SC coroner
A man was killed Friday when he fell off the back of a truck and run over by the trailer the vehicle was hauling, according to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office.
Abel Lopez Cruz, a 42-year-old Augusta Georgia resident, was identified as the victim on Wednesday, Coroner Darryl Ables said in a news release.
The incident happened at about 4 p.m. in the 6000 block of Northside Drive, Ables said. That’s in North Augusta, in the area between Interstate 520 and U.S. 78.
The man was riding on the back of a truck when he fell off and was run over, according to the release. Information about what the male was doing on the truck, and what caused him to fall was not available.
EMS took the victim from South Carolina across the state line to WellStar MCG hospital in Augusta, Georgia, where he died shortly after 5 p.m., the coroner’s office said.
Both the coroner’s office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the death. An autopsy will be performed Thursday in Newberry, Ables said.
Through Aug. 4, at least 534 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
At least 21 people have died in Aiken County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 38 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS reported.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published August 18, 2024 at 8:48 AM.
