ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) trooper has died from injuries he sustained after being hit by a box truck during a traffic stop in Orangeburg County. Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks, a member of Troop 7 since 2023, passed away on Wednesday night, four days after the incident.
The crash occurred early Sunday morning on I-26. According to the SCHP, Trooper Ricks was conducting a traffic stop when he was struck by a box truck as he was walking back to his patrol car. He was transported to a North Charleston hospital with a severe brain injury, bleeding, and multiple broken bones in his lower back. Ricks remained in critical condition until his death.
In a social media post, his wife, Jade, shared that he passed away around 9:15 p.m., stating that she held him in her arms during his final moments.
The driver of the box truck, 45-year-old Anthony Aydlette, was arrested and charged with driving under suspension. He was granted a $647.50 bond and is being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
The incident remains under investigation.
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