Roofer in Aiken, SC

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – NewsChannel 6 is gathering the latest details on a crash involving an 18-wheeler that sent one person to the hospital.

It happened Tuesday on I-20 off Exit 22, near the McDonalds and Waffle House on Highway 1.

While South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to heed the warnings they have in place.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office was one of several agencies on the scene for a type of crash law enforcement says rarely occurs.

“I go back to when we had the train derailment that happened years and years ago. But this is not something common that we see on a weekly basis,” said Major Jason Griffin.

According to Highway Patrol, the 2024 Freightliner was heading eastbound on I-20 when it ran off the left side of the road near Exit 22, then crashed between the two bridges running along the Highway 1 interchange.

Aiken County EMA, Aiken County Hazmat, SC Highway Patrol, SCDOT and others then came to support the Sheriff’s Office.

“Law enforcement will typically arrive at these scenes first. Sometimes the fire department can get there first. But once you identify not only that you have a traffic collision—but then maybe there’s hazardous materials involved as well—the resources just start to branch out from there,” Griffin said.

The hazardous material in the truck was identified as methyl acetate, a highly flammable substance used in lacquers and paint thinner and to make pharmaceuticals, but the spill did not cause any harm.

While Highway Patrol is investigating, The Sheriff’s Office has detours on Highway 1 at East Frontage Road and Fulmer Road, and are urging the public to heed the warnings.

“When you get to these detours, again just be patient. We’ll get you where you need to go methodically and as safe as possible to try to get the problem mitigated. Safety is obviously the most important thing for everybody out there on the roads,” said Griffin.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating exactly what caused that truck to veer off I-20.

Meanwhile the driver was taken to the hospital, but there are no updates on her conditions or injuries.

She is also not facing any charges at this time.

Count on NewsChannel 6 to bring you the latest as soon as it becomes available.

State championship season is rapidly approaching for boys' golf teams in the South Carolina High School League, and soon the kings of each classification will be crowned.

That carries with it plenty of bragging rights, as by the end of May a team will be able to claim it's the best in Class AAAAA, the best in Class AAAA, and so on.

The best of them all? That will be decided this weekend.

The Southern Cross returns to Palmetto Golf Club for its 50th edition, pitting the best of the best teams against one another on a premium, historic layout. The tournament is scheduled for 36 holes, with the first round Friday and the final round Saturday.

The standard in year 50 is the same as it was in 1975, when a former southern amateur championship (held from 1895-1948) returned as a high school - and, at the time, junior high - showcase intended to highlight the very best in the area, state and Southeast.

It hasn't strayed far from that vision. Arthur Hendley was the chair of Palmetto's junior golf activities back in 1975 when he announced that the Southern Cross was being revitalized, crediting then-Aiken Standard golf columnist Harold Fletcher for the idea that got the ball rolling, and along with co-tournament directors Billy Howard and Joe Wyatt laid the groundwork for what quickly became and still remains one of the country's most prestigious high school golf tournaments.

"I've often told people that, when you look at the Southern Cross, it is, to me, the Masters of high school golf because it's such a great field, such great golfers, historic club, really done right, really take care of you," said South Aiken head coach Tommy DeGennaro. "Of course, having a course that was redesigned by Alister MacKenzie, it's almost like you are playing the Masters of high school golf. It means a lot. It's such a great tournament. You get a chance to see coaches from other teams that you've become friendly with over the years, so I'm really looking forward to that."

The Southern Cross has continued the grow, gaining and maintaining a reputation as having the best field in South Carolina high school golf. That's never lost on the victors, especially those who are in the hunt year after year before finally breaking through.

"It's hard to believe," Bishop England coach Jeff Burton said after his team's 2023 title, the emotion evident in his voice. "My son played in this, so he was my first call. He got third in this one time. We've been at it a long time. John Greavu and I started coaching this team about 12, 13 years ago, and it's nice to finally, finally put our team name up against some of the greats. We're thrilled, and we love this place. ... Our kids look forward to this. In our opinion, this is the actual state championship. It's pretty special."

The Battling Bishops are among the state's all-time elite programs, with eight state championships to their credit. They're no strangers to hoisting trophies, yet the one they wanted most always seemed to elude them at Palmetto before Luke Walmet's par clincher.

The same goes for Christ Church Episcopal, which holds the SCHSL record with a whopping 20 state championships - all won since 1977. The Cavaliers frequently notched wins over much larger schools at other tournaments, but for years the Southern Cross was the only trophy missing from their overflowing cases. Christ Church got that monkey off its back in 2021 in a win that overshadowed - in the best way possible - the Cavaliers' 76-shot victory at the Class AA state championship tournament later that month.

"We won't see this kind of competition (at the state championship tournament), so this has got to be a big boost," head coach Kristen Rooke said following the win. "I think you can safely say we beat the best teams in the state here. It's exciting. I'm happy for the boys, and I'm happy for the school."

Greenville High is another one of the state's historic powerhouses that recently returned to the form that produced seven state championships from 1946-64. The Red Raiders have once again become a dominant force, but that never quite translated over to success at Palmetto - until last year's two-shot win over A.C. Flora and Blue Ridge.

"I mean, this one's unbelievable," head coach David Cattrell said, perhaps still experiencing the shakes he was feeling as the tournament came down to the final hole. "This tournament just speaks for itself, and to finally win it with Greenville and these guys who have been playing in it for three years, finally being able to get it done. I know they're excited. I'm super proud of them. Couldn't be happier."

North Augusta won the inaugural championship back in 1975, with the Jackets' Dave Moore making history of his own as the tournament's first medalist. Aiken High's Scott Goodman became the second in 1978, followed by South Aiken's David Seawell in 1992, North Augusta's Kyle Bradley in 1998, South Aiken's Alex Hamilton in 2001, South Aiken's Kevin Kisner in 2002 and South Aiken's Jake Carter with back-to-back titles in 2015-16.

Carter's second win was historic, as he became only the third player to medal at Southern Cross more than once. He joined future PGA Tour winners Jonathan Byrd of Spring Valley (three straight from 1994-96) and Wesley Bryan of Dutch Fork (2007-08), and Boiling Springs' Trent Phillips (2017-18) immediately joined the club after Carter.

South Aiken has been the tournament's dominant force, with a record six titles between 1990-2013. The T-Breds also won six state championships during that stretch, and they often faced tougher competition at Southern Cross than at state.

"I think it's tougher because we've got AAAA, AAA, AA and A (to compete against), and (the) Georgia (teams). The state is just the best of AAA," said Seawell, a future University of South Carolina Hall of Famer, after the T-Breds' first win at Palmetto.

It's a big stretch of the high school golf season, typically with region championships preceding the Southern Cross and then state qualifiers and state championships right after. This one carries a slightly different weight to it than the others, something that isn't lost on the visiting schools or the hosts.

"It's major. We're blessed to be a local team and get to participate in it every year. ... Palmetto and Ryan Orr, they do a great job with putting that tournament on," said Aiken High head coach Luke McClure. "I would argue that it's probably the best tournament, definitely in the CSRA, but I would argue in the southeast. It's something a lot of schools from a lot of states try to get into. They just do everything above and beyond there. They think of every little thing, and every year it seems like there's new excitement.

"You just can't ask for a better high school golf environment and a better atmosphere. Palmetto's always in great shape. Their members and staff there do a great job of putting on that tournament. It's definitely an honor and a pleasure to get to enjoy that and experience that two-day stretch there to end the year."

Weekend traffic through downtown Aiken may require a bit of extra caution this weekend, with plans in place for dozens of food trucks and thousands of potential diners to descend on Newberry Street's festival area.

A Foodees Food and Cultural Festival event is set to run May 2-4. Hours are 1-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Traffic will be redirected to allow for a relatively safe gathering space.

Admission is free, and the options listed under "main course" include such possibilities as El Centro, Ashley's Yummy Tummy, Mr. B's Fish and Shrimp on the Go, Gullah Express, Lucy's Tacos and Southland Concessions.

Beverage vendors are to include Giant Baby Bottle, Hillbilly Soda, Pineapple Island, Lazy Lemon and Lily Coffee, Tea and Bread; and the "snacks" category includes such options as Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nut House Boiled Peanuts, Ono Ice, Casa Blanca and KP's Kakes.

Also making the trip to Aiken will be a variety of artisans. Helping comprise that list are 2 Beads of Hope, Sandy's Crystals, Audrey Leather Designs, Melodious Mudworks, County Line Horror and Quilt House Gals.

"We're the biggest traveling festival in the country," said Lexington-based Peter Hanti, who plans to attend with his wife and offer creations from their Mama's Taste of the World truck. "We're the only truck in South Carolina that offers conch fritters, and we're especially known for our lobster rolls and lobster grilled cheese."

A sampling of this year's calendar for the Foodees entourage includes such destinations as Spartanburg (May 16-18), Gadsden, Alabama (May 23-25); Pensacola, Florida (June 20-22); Columbus, Ohio (July 4-6); Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (Sept. 5-7); Grand Rapids, Michigan (Oct. 3-5); Augusta (Nov. 7-9) and Myrtle Beach (Dec. 12-14).

GRANITEVILLE — Rob Pruiett likes to say his career path in recent years has taken him “from The Alley to the Valley.”

As the food and beverage manager at the Midland Valley Golf Club, he is in charge of a new restaurant there, the Horse Creek Tavern, which made its debut in April and is open to the public.

“I found out retirement was both expensive and boring, and there was a hole in my heart,” said Pruiett, who took a break after his family’s popular Aiken Brewing Company closed in March 2023 in downtown Aiken.

Known also as the “Brew Pub,” the Aiken Brewing Company was based at the Laurens Street entrance to The Alley.

Dan Beavers and Mark Findley founded the restaurant, according to a story published in the Aiken Standard when it opened in 1997.

The Pruietts became the Aiken Brewing Company’s proprietors in 2003.

The Horse Creek Tavern has “a little Brew Pub flair,” Rob Pruiett said.

The furnishings include tables and bar stools from the Aiken Brewing Company.

There also are some Brew Pub offerings on the menu such as The Mother Plucker wrap, Tipsy Chicken, Rasta Pasta and The Big Tony double bacon cheeseburger wrap.

“We’re doing our wings just the same because everybody missed my wings,” Pruiett said. “I had the best wings in town [at the Aiken Brewing Company] and I do them the same over here.”

Some of the Horse Creek Tavern’s employees are former members of the Brew Pub team.

Pruiett is especially enjoying the opportunity at the Midland Valley Golf Club to smoke meat.

“In downtown Aiken, they wouldn’t let me have a smoker,” he said.

The Horse Creek Tavern serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

“I’m trying to keep it simple and affordable,” Pruiett said.

For example, the cost is $6 at lunch for an egg salad, chicken salad or pimento cheese sandwich with a side of French fries, onion rings, potato chips or salad.

Among the choices on the dinner menu are grilled or blackened mahi-mahi, steaks, pork chops and shrimp and grits.

Steven Petersen, Jeff Petersen and John Lovin purchased the Midland Valley Golf Club in January 2024.

When they bought the 18-hole course, it didn’t have a full-service restaurant.

“There weren’t any kind of sit-down meals happening at the time, and they hadn’t been doing that for a while,” Steven Petersen said. “They were serving cold cut sandwiches and that kind of stuff for the golfers only, really.”

But there was a demand for a better dining option.

“A lot of our members were clamoring for it, and there was a lot of interest from our neighbors [in subdivisions],” Steven said.

In addition, “we’re trying to increase revenues so we can get the golf course fixed up and elevate its quality,” he continued. “This is just one more step in the process.”

And Steven believes Midland Valley Golf Club has the right person in charge to make the Horse Creek Tavern successful.

“Rob is a friend of a friend,” he said. “Once we started talking about reopening the restaurant and getting it back going again, he told Rob, and Rob said, ‘Oh man, I would be interested.’ We talked to Rob for eight or nine months about doing something together, and now it has come to fruition.”

Pruiett is an asset because “he has a big following,” Petersen told the Aiken Standard. “A lot of people that were previously patrons of the Brew Pub have been visiting us, and they love it because it’s the same food they had there. The Mother Plucker has been a big hit, and the chicken wings are fantastic.”

The semi-private Midland Valley Golf Club is at 151 Midland Drive, Graniteville.

For more information, visit playmidlandvalley.com or call 803-663-7332.

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A truck went off the side of a bridge at Columbia Highway and Interstate 20 on Tuesday afternoon in Aiken County, spilling hazardous materials and closing several miles of the interstate.

As of 5:30 a.m., all lanes of traffic on I-20 were back open, but Columbia Highway was still closed.

As of 11:20 a.m., Columbia Highway was reopened.

Deputies say the substance has been identified as methyl acetate, which is highly flammable.

One person was taken to a hospital, but their injuries are unknown, according to deputies.

According to new details from officials, the freightliner was traveling eastbound on I-20 when it ran off the left side of the road near exit 22, then crashed between the two bridges running along the Highway 1 interchange. South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating exactly what caused the truck to veer off I-20.

People in the area are being asked to shelter in place due to the hazardous material.

The county shared a Facebook post as well as an alert on the CodeRed app to alert residents.

During the closures, eastbound vehicles are being directed off the interstate at Edgefield Highway, Exit 18, while westbound traffic is being diverted at Wire Road, Exit 29, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.

The Center Fire & Rescue Department says the road will be closed for at least 10 hours.

Columbia Highway is blocked northbound and southbound, and detours are in place.

Deputies urge drivers to avoid both the interstate and the highway.

PHOTO GALLERY: BIG-RIG WRECK

The incident happened around 5 p.m., and there were be closures for some time, deputies say.

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