A quiet Saturday afternoon in Greenville County turned into a tragedy at around 3:35 p.m. when four vehicles collided at the intersection of Augusta Road and Matrix Parkway. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), a 2019 Jeep SUV turning left onto Matrix Parkway from Augusta Road was struck broadside by a 2018 Ford pickup truck traveling south on Augusta Road. The force of the impact then pushed the Jeep into a 2018 Mitsubishi SUV and a 2005 Honda sedan that were both entering from Matrix Parkway.
Tragically, the crash claimed the life of a young boy, 7-year-old Caius Blakley of Woodruff, who was a rear-seat passenger in the Jeep. He was transported to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Emergency Department, where he succumbed to his injuries, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.
The driver of the Ford pickup emerged physically unscathed, but three other drivers — those behind the wheels of the Jeep, Mitsubishi and Honda — along with three passengers in the Mitsubishi, required hospital transport after suffering various injuries. Investigators say the scene remains under active examination as authorities look to reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash.
For the Blakley family and their community, this loss is immeasurable. According to friends and neighbors, Caius was a bright, joyful child whose promise touched many. The coroner’s statement simply put it: “This is a heartbreaking loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Caius’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time.”
As investigators work to piece together how this tragic collision occurred, the SCHP and the coroner’s office continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses and study vehicle dynamics at the intersection. Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information to come forward.
Meanwhile, the community is rallying. Messages of comfort and solidarity have been posted by neighbors, family friends and local organizations, all mourning a young life gone too soon and offering support to the Blakley family as they navigate an unimaginable grief. In the face of such heartbreak, many speak of holding on to the warmth and memory of Caius’s smile, his kindness and the ways he made those around him feel.
In the days ahead, the full details of the investigation — including whether speed, visibility, distraction or mechanical failures played a role — will come into sharper focus. But for now, Greenville County mourns the loss of a little boy, and the reminder that in a single split-second, everything can change.
