ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A judge granted bond Friday for the man accused of striking a state trooper on I-26, leading to the officer’s death.
Anthony Aydlette, 45, from Hanahan, was given a bond of $225,000, required to wear an ankle monitor, and instructed not to contact Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks’ family. Aydlette faces charges of reckless homicide related to the crash.
TFC. Ricks was returning to his patrol car after a traffic stop around 2 a.m. on August 10 when a box truck hit him. The incident occurred near mile marker 166 in Orangeburg County.
Ricks sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. His wife reported on social media that he endured a severe brain injury, bleeding and swelling, kidney bleeding, several fractured bones, and other injuries.
A few days later, on Aug. 14, Ricks died in the hospital.
“Aydlette should never have been driving a motor vehicle in South Carolina,” stated Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell during a Friday press conference.
Over the last decade, Aydlette’s record includes seven suspensions, involvement in six accidents, four of which he was found at fault, and at least two traffic violations.
Sheriff Ravenell said he was traveling about 62 mph when he struck Ricks, who was never in the roadway.
