A fun Saturday evening turned into a heartbreaking nightmare for an Aiken family when a 15-year-old boy lost his life in a two-vehicle crash in the Jackson area of Aiken County, South Carolina.
Axel K. Ulteig, a teenager from Aiken, was a passenger in a 2026 Polaris side-by-side utility vehicle when the tragedy struck around 5:45 p.m. on May 23. The vehicle was attempting to cross Atomic Road from Hankinson Street when it was struck by a 2020 Nissan Sentra traveling east on Atomic Road.
The impact was devastating. Axel was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:05 p.m. Two other passengers in the Polaris were rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries. The driver of the Nissan Sentra walked away unharmed.
Lance Corporal Brittany Glover of the South Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed the crash details. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office officially identified Axel as the victim, and an autopsy has been scheduled in Newberry.
No child should lose their life on a routine evening out. Axel’s passing leaves behind a community in grief and a family shattered by an unexpected goodbye.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Aiken County Coroner’s Office are continuing their investigation into what exactly caused the collision. No further details have been released at this time.
Our thoughts are with Axel’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
