Winnsboro, SC (WLTX) - The Winnsboro community is grieving after learning of the death of 17-year-old Sammy Cornelius Jr.
Cornelius was killed in a car accident early Tuesday morning. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Fairfield County Coroner's Office are investigating the accident that happened around 8:16 a.m. at Reservoir and Rion roads in Fairfield County.
According to SCHP reports, Cornelius' 2007 Honda Civic was traveling east on Reservoir Road and crossed the center line where it was struck by a 2001 Honda Accord driven by Nadine Washington, 67.
Washington was wearing a seatbelt and was injured in the accident. Cornelius was not wearing a seatbelt as was declared dead at the scene.
Cornelius was a senior at Fairfield Central High School.
"He became involved in the Griffin Bow Tie club back in 2015-2016," says Dr. J.R. Green, superintendent of Fairfield County Schools. "He was a member of the Fairfield Central High School band, was recently named homecoming king, active in student government, BETA club."
He was best known for his musical talents with the stage name Zizzy Stix. Independent musical artist TiffanyJ says she enjoyed performing with him.
"He was always so grateful for opportunities and I think that says a lot because he was super talented, super talented. He had an opportunity to be a drummer for John P. Kee, like this boy was just so talented and he was only 17."
Cornelius recently played with TiffanyJ during the Jubilee Festival in Columbia this year.
"He was just so humble and he was just a perfect example of how to live your life and he always gave God all honor and glory for all of the talents and everything he had. He had so much potential, so much going for himself. I've never seen Lil Sam be disrespectful to anybody and I think that's just a compliment to how his parents raised him."