State officials investigate fatal crash on I-20

The state's accident reconstruction team is investigating a Thursday evening crash that claimed the life of a 32-year-old man whose vehicle is believed to have been forced off I-20 by a speeding tractor-trailer, officials said.

Aaron Jennings of North Augusta was pronounced dead at the Medical Center of Georgia's emergency department at 7:18 p.m., said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

He suffered multiple body trauma, Carlton said.

Jennings was driving west in a 2004 Ford Explorer between mile marker 14 and 15 around 6:15 p.m. when witnesses told officials the crash occurred.

Carlton said Jennings was in the fast lane - the lane closest to the median - when a tractor-trailer pulled in behind him from the slow lane to pass traffic. The truck allegedly forced the SUV off the roadway and into the median.

Carlton said there were trees in the median but no cable barrier.

The vehicle overturned in the median several times, and Jennings, who was not restrained, was thrown from the vehicle. The coroner said Jennings had latched the seat belt closed but was sitting on top of it and did not secure it around him.

He was the lone occupant in the car, Carlton said.

Investigators have not said whether the tractor-trailer driver actually struck the SUV or if the truck driver was aware that he was involved in the crash.

It was a hit and run, officials said.

Another motorist who reported witnessing the crash took down the truck's vehicle information, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol was able to locate the vehicle.

Witnesses told the coroner's office that the truck driver was traveling in excess of the posted 70 mph speed limit; however, that has not been confirmed by the highway patrol.

State troopers have not released the identity of the truck driver nor commented on what charges he might face.

Jennings' death is the ninth traffic fatality reported in Aiken County this year.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.