A 19-year-old trucking company employee has died after being smashed between a truck and trailer.

Deputies responded to Southeastern Freight in North Augusta, SC at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, a 19-year-old company employee was lying on a dolly and had a large head laceration.

According to the Sheriff’s Office incident report, the victim and a truck driver were exchanging trailers at the Southeastern Freight yard. The truck driver thought the victim had cleared the area, and began backing the truck up to a trailer, pinching the victim between the trailer and the truck.

Cole Kugler, of North Augusta, SC, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troy Elwell of the Aiken County (SC) Sheriff’s Office said he expects no charges will be filed because of the incident.

Elwell said the driver checked his mirrors before backing up – something the driver had done hundreds of times before.

“Even if you look 100 times, it can be that one time that you don’t,” Elwell told Land Line Now. “It’s just one of those things. … It just was a terrible accident.” 

Land Line Now reporter Reed Black contributed to this article.