Man in jail after car flips, ejects passenger

A 21-year-old Aiken man is in jail for felony DUI after he lost control of a sport utility vehicle Friday afternoon and his passenger was ejected, state troopers say.

Shane D. Spires, of Wyman Street in Aiken, was taken to Aiken Regional Medical Centers for treatment from the injuries he sustained in the afternoon crash and was later booked at the Aiken County detention center on the driving under the influence charge.

The crash occurred at the corner of U.S. Highway 1 and the Robert M. Bell Parkway about 4:15 p.m., blocking traffic for about six hours while troopers with the state's accident investigation team investigated the crash.

Spires was restrained, but his front seat passenger was not, troopers said.

Jonathan Resinger, 19, of Aiken, was thrown from the vehicle. He was transported to the Medical College of Georgia with severe injuries.

The two men were the only occupants in the vehicle.

Witnesses said the driver was speeding when he attempted to veer right onto U.S. Highway 1 from the parkway and lost control of the 2001 Ford SUV. SClBThe vehicle flipped over and Resinger was thrown from the summersaulting vehicle.

Spires appeared to have an abrasion on his head and was argumentative with state troopers during the arrest and field sobriety test.

In addition to vehicle parts in the roadway, a bottle of alcohol was also seen lying in the eastbound lane of traffic.

Troopers did not say whether the bottle was thrown from the SUV during the crash. However, it was in a debris field of a number of items found resting near the car.

The crash is still under investigation, said Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth, but other charges may be pending.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com