Tragic accident kills local woman

Tragic accident kills woman

Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton said the death of an Aiken woman who was struck and killed in her driveway while directing her 13-year-old son to move the family's vehicle is nothing short of a "horrible, tragic event."

Paula Phillips, 42, of 229 East Pine Log Road, suffered multiple body trauma when the SUV surged forward and struck the mother of two.

She was pronounced dead at her home.

Neighbors said the family was very close.

Witnesses said the teenager and his friends were clearing the driveway to play basketball when the boy asked his mother if he could move the vehicle to shoot baskets. The neighbors said the mother was attempting to guide the teen, giving him driving directions, when he attempted to brake but stepped on the accelerator instead.

She was pushed under the vehicle and fatally injured.

"There is no evidence of malicious intent, rather Mrs. Phillips appears to be the victim of a tragic event," Carlton said.

The crash drew the attention of several motorists on East Pine Log Road, and even more children walking home from school and around the taped-off home. The vehicle went past the carport and into the backyard and was barely visible from the street.

Witnesses said a counselor from the teenager's school heard about the tragedy and took him back to school immediately. He later traveled with his father and a church pastor to Columbia to tell the woman's college-age son attending classes at the University of South Carolina about the woman's death.

No charges will be filed against the teenager.

This collision is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the Aiken County Coroner's Office.

This is the 29th fatal collision in Aiken County this year.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com