Richland County, South Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol has detained a guy in connection with a tragic hit-and-run early Wednesday in Richland County.
James Hargrave, 55, faces a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal collision.
Travis Kelley, 11 years old from Gadsden, has been confirmed as the victim.
On Wednesday, the Richland One school district confirmed to WACH FOX that the victim was a sixth-grade Montessori student at W.G. Sanders Middle School.
According to a statement from the school district,
The Richland One family is saddened by the tragic loss this morning (October 1, 2025) of one of our students. He was a sixth-grade student in the Montessori program at W.G. Sanders Middle School. We extend our condolences to the student’s family and the students and staff at W.G. Sanders. We ask everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Our Crisis Team has been activated and is providing support and counseling to students and staff as needed.
Troopers say the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. near Bluff Road and Blackberry Road.
The sixth-grader was walking south on Bluff Road when they were hit by a westbound 2008 Lexus vehicle.
Hargrave, the driver of the Lexus, is accused of fleeing the scene following the crash.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford issued the following statement:
The death of a child is not just a family’s tragedy-it is a heartbreak that ripples through our entire community. To know that a child left home and will not be returning leaves a pain that words cannot fully express. Our office will work closely with the South Carolina Highway Patrol to fully investigate this fatal hit and run.
The incident is still under investigation.
