Bond granted for SC man accused of hitting state trooper on I-26

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, of Hanahan, was granted a $225,000 bond, ordered to wear an ankle monitor, and must not contact the family of Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks. Aydlette is charged with reckless homicide in connection with the crash.

TFC. Ricks was walking back to his patrol car after conducting a traffic stop around 2 a.m. on Aug. 10 when he was struck by a box truck. The collision happened near mile marker 166 in Orangeburg County.

Ricks suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. According to a social post from his wife, he suffered a severe brain injury, bleeding, swelling, kidney bleeding, several broken bones, and more.

A few days later, on Aug. 14, Ricks died in the hospital.

“Aydlette should never have been driving a motor vehicle in South Carolina, “Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said at a Friday press conference.

In the past ten years, Aydlette has had seven suspensions, been involved in six accidents, four of which were determined to be his fault, and has had at least two traffic violations.

Sheriff Ravenell said he was traveling about 62 mph when he struck Ricks, who was never in the roadway.