Victims identified in Monday's collision

The names of the five victims in Monday night's three-vehicle crash on New Holland Road have been identified.

According to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton, the driver was Crystal Lyell, 26, of Heflin, Ala. Her 4-year-old son Zachary Taylor was in the back seat. The front seat passenger was Michael Lott, 40, of Aiken. The other rear passengers were Joshua Lott, 18, of Aiken, and Mark Daniels, 33, of Windsor.

Lyell, Michael Lott and Zachary were wearing seat belts, Carlton said.

The crash happened just north of S.C. Highway 302 near Couchton.

According to a news release from Carlton, the car with the five passengers was traveling north when Lyell crossed the centerline and struck a southbound Toyota pickup truck hauling farm implements. Lyell's vehicle went into a spin and was struck by another southbound vehicle. Two other people were injured in this crash. Their status is unknown.



Toxicology is pending; however, alcohol is suspected as a causal factor in the crash, Carlton said. South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Aiken County Coroner's Office are investigating.

On Tuesday morning a relative of four of the victims combed through the remaining debris at the crash site.

Fred Wienbeck, of Couchton, found a piece of a radio, a cigarette lighter and a few odds and ends.

Mitzi Nichols, Wienbeck's sister-in-law, said via telephone that Michael Lott was her nephew and Joshua Lott was Michael Lott's son. Lyell was her niece. She didn't know Daniels.

The group had been swimming at a nearby swimming hole and were returning home, she said.

Lyell and her son had moved to Aiken recently.