Axel K. Ulteig Killed in Jackson Off-Road Vehicle Accident
15-year-old dies after side-by-side utility vehicle and car collide at Atomic Road intersection
Axel K. Ulteig, 15, of Aiken, was killed in a collision between a utility vehicle and a car at the corner of Atomic Road and Hankerson Street in Jackson on May 23, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Paramedics rushed to the scene shortly after 5:45 p.m., transporting two injured passengers from the wreckage to a local hospital. The driver of the second vehicle was evaluated but did not require medical transport.
The crash occurred when a 2026 Polaris side-by-side carrying three people attempted to cross Atomic Road. A 2020 Nissan Sentra traveling through the intersection struck the utility vehicle.
Ulteig, a passenger in the Polaris, was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:05 p.m. by the Aiken County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled in Newberry.
The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the collision. No charges have been announced.
How do off-road vehicle risks compare to standard traffic?
When utility vehicles and standard passenger cars collide, the size and safety feature disparities often lead to severe outcomes for the off-road passengers.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, said, "Vehicle data recorders capture information about speed, braking, steering input, and other conditions in the seconds before a fatal crash occurs. That data can be extraordinarily valuable in understanding what happened."
What does crash data show for this vehicle category?
"An attorney can take the necessary steps to preserve vehicle data quickly and make sure that information remains available for any investigation that follows on behalf of affected families," noted Stefano Formica, who serves as a national legal analyst for Accident News and is of counsel at Bond Legal.
While side-by-sides offer more structural protection than traditional four-wheelers, they remain highly vulnerable when struck by heavier, faster-moving highway traffic. CPSC data indicates that off-highway vehicle incidents result in approximately 102,000 emergency department visits annually. The lack of standard automotive safety features in many recreational vehicles leaves passengers exposed during side-impact collisions at intersections.
South Carolina wrongful death statute
Under S.C. Code § 15-51-10, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. South Carolina applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and mental shock and suffering.