Trooper Dies After Box Truck Collision in Orangeburg County
COLUMBIA — Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks, 30, died on Aug. 13, three days after being critically injured in a collision with a box truck while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 26 in Orangeburg County.
Ricks suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures, and was receiving treatment at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, according to his wife, Jade Riley Ricks.
The driver of the box truck, 28-year-old Anthony Aydlette, was charged with driving under suspension on Aug. 11. He remains in custody at the Orangeburg County jail, unable to post a $647 bail due to financial constraints related to an ankle monitor, court officials stated.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, with assistance from the Lexington County Sheriff's Office. Further updates on the investigation are pending.
Ricks joined the S.C. Highway Patrol in January 2023 and had recently graduated from the agency's training program. He was assigned to Troop 7, Post B, serving Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.
The S.C. Highway Patrol expressed deep condolences, noting it was the first line-of-duty officer death in eight years. Ricks is one of 52 troopers who have died in service since 1931, according to agency data.