Jasmine Ambs Killed in Aiken County Motorcycle Accident
The 17-year-old died when the westbound Kawasaki collided with a Subaru on Jefferson Davis Highway
Jasmine Ambs, 17, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Jefferson Davis Highway in Aiken County, South Carolina, on Sunday, April 5, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The westbound 2026 Kawasaki collided with a 2020 Subaru in the 2000 block of the road at approximately 10:51 a.m., investigators reported.
Ambs and the 21-year-old on the motorcycle were both pronounced dead at the scene at 11 a.m. The driver of the Subaru was taken to a local hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
Autopsies are scheduled for next week in Newberry. The coroner's office and state troopers are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.
What caused the collision on Jefferson Davis Highway?
While the South Carolina Highway Patrol works to determine exactly how the Subaru and the Kawasaki collided, investigators will likely examine right-of-way, speed, and visibility along the corridor.
"In motorcycle accidents, nobody thinks a routine trip to the store will end in a tragedy that breaks a family's heart," said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Intersection fatalities often happen because of a stale green light, where drivers accelerate too quickly to beat the yellow."
The crash adds to a rising toll across the state. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 264 people were killed in traffic crashes statewide in 2025, including 24 motorcyclists.
What are the legal options for Ambs' family?
Under South Carolina law, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.
"In fatal motorcycle crashes, most people don't know that left turns are responsible for nearly a quarter of all intersection deaths," said Stefano Formica, of Bond Legal. "When a driver turns across traffic, they're often miscalculating the speed of oncoming vehicles, and it'll end in tragedy."
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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.