Teenager killed in crash that left 2 other people hospitalized, SC officials say
A teenager was killed in a Saturday night crash that left two other people hospitalized, according to South Carolina officials.
Axel K. Ulteig, a 15-year-old Aiken resident, is the person who died, the Aiken County Coroner’s Office said.
The two-vehicle collision happened at about 5:40 p.m. in Aiken County, according to Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Axel was a passenger in a 2026 Polaris side-by-side UTV that was driving east on South Hankinson Street, Glover said. As the Polaris was crossing the intersection with Atomic Road it collided with a 2020 Nissan Sentra that was driving south on Atomic Road, according to Glover.
Axel died at scene from the injuries he suffered in the wreck, the coroner’s office said.
There were two other people in the Polaris, and both were taken to an area hospital, according to Glover. Further information on the conditions of the Polaris driver and the other passenger was not available.
Glover said the Nissan driver was not hurt, and no other injuries were reported.
There was no word if anyone involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt, but it continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.
An autopsy will be performed in Newberry, the coroner’s office said.
Through May 17, at least 289 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2026, according to the state Department of Public Safety. A minimum of 914 people were killed in collisions in South Carolina in 2025, DPS data shows.
At least 10 people have died in Aiken County crashes this year, and 23 people died in wrecks there in 2025, according to DPS data.
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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Teenager killed in crash that left 2 other people hospitalized, SC officials say."
