Ray C. Straight Obituary – Construction Accident at Lowe’s in North Augusta, South Carolina

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – A tragic accident has claimed the life of a West Virginia man, sending ripples of grief through his family, friends, and the wider construction and retail community. Ray C. Straight, a 43-year-old construction worker, tragically lost his life in a worksite accident on Sunday afternoon, June 22, 2025, at a Lowe’s home improvement store located at 1220 Knox Avenue in North Augusta.

According to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office, emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 5:04 p.m. after receiving reports of a serious workplace incident. Upon arrival, officers with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety (NADPS) discovered Straight pinned beneath a piece of heavy machinery at the construction site, where work was ongoing on a project at the retail location.

Despite the best efforts of first responders, who immediately began CPR in a desperate attempt to save him, Ray C. Straight was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner’s office confirmed that all life-saving measures were exhausted, but Straight could not be revived.

Lt. William Hultman of the NADPS provided a preliminary statement following the incident:

“It does not appear that anything criminal happened. But just to cover all our bases, we are still continuing to investigate it to our fullest capability to make sure everything is what it appears to be.”

Authorities are currently conducting a full investigation into the cause and circumstances surrounding the accident. While no foul play is suspected, procedural thoroughness is being exercised to ensure the incident is fully understood and that any potential workplace safety violations are identified.

Ray C. Straight was known to many as a hardworking, diligent, and kind-hearted man who took pride in his work. Hailing from West Virginia, he had built a solid reputation in the construction industry through years of experience, reliability, and a no-nonsense work ethic. Friends and colleagues describe him as someone who always showed up early, worked with intensity and precision, and never hesitated to lend a helping hand on or off the job site.

He leaves behind grieving loved ones, including family members who are now grappling with the sudden and shocking loss. For them, what was supposed to be another day at work ended in irreversible tragedy.

In the wake of this incident, many in the North Augusta community, as well as the wider network of construction professionals across state lines, have expressed their condolences and heartbreak at the untimely passing of one of their own. Social media has begun to fill with heartfelt tributes, and conversations about worker safety have once again taken center stage in industry circles.

The management at Lowe’s has yet to issue a formal statement, but the store was temporarily closed following the incident as emergency responders completed their work and investigators began their review of the scene. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is expected to be involved as standard procedure in all workplace fatalities involving heavy equipment.

As the investigation continues, Ray’s memory is being honored by those who knew him well. Whether on a jobsite or at home in West Virginia, Ray Straight will be remembered not just as a worker lost in an accident, but as a valued friend, a beloved family member, and a man who gave everything he had to his trade.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days, as his family works through the painful process of bringing him home. Community members in both North Augusta and West Virginia are expected to gather to honor his life, support one another, and call for continued awareness and safety in construction workplaces.

May Ray C. Straight rest in peace, and may his legacy serve as a reminder of the real people behind every hard hat and every construction site.