Holly MatkinAnderson County, SC – Anderson Police Department (APD) Sergeant Ethan Kaskin was killed in a head-on collision as he was driving home from his workout on Friday morning.
The 59-year-old sergeant was driving his city-owned SUV westbound on the Double Bridges on Highway 24 when the crash occurred at approximately 6 a.m., WYFF reported.
The 22-year-old female driver of an eastbound SUV crossed over the center line and slammed into Sgt. Kaskin’s vehicle head-on, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP).
The woman was transported to the hospital with severe injuries, WYFF reported.
Sgt. Kaskin was trapped inside his vehicle as a result of the collision, according to WHNS.
He died from his injuries at the scene.
First responders draped the fallen sergeant’s body with an American flag after they removed him from the wreckage of the SUV, the Independent Mail reported.
“Draping the flag is something we do for any officer, any firefighter, any EMT who was on duty or on their way into duty when they died,” Anderson County Deputy Coroner Dan McCown said. “It is a symbol of recognition for their service and for everything they did and gave for us.”
The SCHP Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is conducting the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash, the Independent Mail reported.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Sergeant Ethan Kaskin of the Anderson City Police Department,” the APD said in a press release later in the afternoon.
Sgt. Kaskin joined APD in 2008, and was serving as a CPD Criminal Investigation Division investigator at the time of his death, APD Chief Jim Stewart said during a press conference.
“This officer loved this community and he would do anything for this community. He loved his job in law enforcement,” Chief Stewart said, according to WHNS. “No matter what job we asked him to do, any job we gave him in the department, he loved it.”
One of Sgt. Kaskin’s many duties was to investigate cases of violence against women, the Independent Mail reported.
“He would always speak for those who didn’t have a voice,” Chief Stewart said.
The chief said that Sgt. Kaskin “had an impeccable work ethic.”
“His fellow officers will miss him and the public he served will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and loved ones,” Chief Stewart said.
Sgt. Kaskin leaves behind his wife of six years, as well as his children and grandchildren, WTFF reported.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family, and we will do whatever we can to help them,” APD Captain Mike Aikens told the Independent Mail. “His family is our family, too.”
Capt. Aikens said that Sgt. Kaskin’s tragic death has devastated the APD.
“It’s surreal,” he said.
⚫️🔵⚫️ @AndCityPD Sgt. Ethan Kaskin had served the @andersoncitysc since 2008. He leaves behind a wife, children, and grand children. pic.twitter.com/O1Huw5X5JS
— Cody Alcorn (@CodyAlcorn) September 25, 2020
Sgt. Ethan Kaskin was an investigator for @AndCityPD . We understand Sgt. Kaskin recently celebrated his birthday. Troopers say a 22-year-old driver in an SUV crosses the center line and hit Sgt. Kaskin head on along the double bridges in Anderson County this morning.
⚫️🔵⚫️ https://t.co/26MAb8VLdq pic.twitter.com/NA9ebVDurA— Cody Alcorn (@CodyAlcorn) September 25, 2020
The Anderson police officer killed in a head-on crash this morning has been identified as Ethan Kaskin.
Kaskin was born in DC, raised in Calif. and was in broadcast radio sales and was a fitness trainer before entering law enforcement. @SCPublicRadio pic.twitter.com/VOGIsI5Zrt
— Scott Morgan (@byscottmorgan) September 25, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Anderson Police Department Sergeant Ethan Kaskin, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
