In Loving Memory of Aris Centel Smith Tragic Hit-and-Run on I-85 Claims Life of Gaffney Man
The community of Gaffney, South Carolina, is reeling from a tragic and deeply unsettling incident that occurred in the early hours of Thursday, July 24, 2025. Authorities have confirmed that 33-year-old Aris Centel Smith lost his life after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 85. The driver responsible fled the scene and remains at large, prompting an active investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office.
The heartbreaking chain of events began around 3:00 a.m., when dispatchers received multiple 911 calls from concerned motorists reporting a naked man standing in the southbound lanes of I-85, beneath the Pleasant School Road bridge. Before authorities could respond to the scene, Aris was struck by a vehicle. The driver did not stop to offer aid or report the collision.
Emergency responders arrived to find Aris had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His body, lifeless and exposed to the elements, was a chilling sight—one that underscored the vulnerability and fragility of life. He was later identified by the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office.
According to statements from a family member, Aris had left his home—located approximately two miles from the scene—on foot around 2:45 a.m. The circumstances surrounding why he was walking on the interstate, and why he was undressed, remain unclear. Mental health concerns, disorientation, or other personal struggles may have played a role. Regardless, his death has raised serious concerns about the tragic intersection of vulnerability, road safety, and accountability.
Now, as investigators search for answers, Aris’s family and loved ones are left to grapple with not only the loss of his life but the mystery and pain surrounding his final moments.
Aris Centel Smith was a beloved member of the Gaffney community—a son, a brother, a friend. Described by those who knew him as sensitive, thoughtful, and deeply human, Aris was someone who wrestled with life’s challenges while still seeking to love and be loved. His family remembers his gentle heart, his sense of humor, and his fierce loyalty. Though life was not always easy for him, Aris strived to stay connected to those he cared about and was known for showing up when it mattered most.
Now, those same loved ones are pleading for justice and for anyone with information to come forward.
“This is not just another accident. Aris mattered,” said one family friend. “We need to understand what happened. He didn’t deserve to be left like that.”
The South Carolina Highway Patrol continues to investigate, and authorities are asking anyone who may have been traveling on I-85 southbound near the Pleasant School Road overpass around 3 a.m. on Thursday to come forward. Even the smallest detail—such as a vehicle description, dashcam footage, or unusual behavior on the road—could help piece together what happened.
If you have any information, you are urged to call the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office at 864-487-6225 or dial 911.
In the days ahead, Aris’s family plans to hold a memorial service to honor his life and say goodbye. They hope to remember not the tragic way he died, but the unique and irreplaceable person he was.
Aris Centel Smith was 33 years old. His story is a reminder of the importance of compassion, awareness, and the need for justice when lives are cut short by negligence and disregard.
May Aris rest in peace.
May answers be found, and may those responsible be held accountable.