The night of Sunday, January 18, 2026, ended in heartbreak for Beaufort County. Two lives were lost in a violent head-on crash that shattered families and left an entire community searching for words. The victims were identified as 17-year-old Amya Fields of Beaufort and 54-year-old Louis Carbonneau of St. Helena, names now spoken with quiet sorrow across the county.
Just before 11 p.m., at about 10:49, the collision happened at the intersection of Sea Island Parkway and Eustis Landing Road. A Honda and a Subaru slammed into each other head-on with such force that the Subaru burst into flames. What had been a calm Sunday night turned into a scene of chaos, flashing lights, and rising smoke that could be seen from a distance.
Firefighters from the Lady’s Island–St. Helena Fire District rushed in alongside other emergency crews. They fought the fire and worked desperately to reach the victims. Despite their fast and fearless response, Amya Fields and Louis Carbonneau were pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old boy who was also in the Honda survived the crash but was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital in critical condition, where he remains under close care as loved ones hold onto hope.
Amya Fields was only 17, an age filled with plans, laughter, and the sense that life is just beginning. Friends and classmates describe her as full of energy and warmth, someone whose presence could brighten a room without effort. Her death cuts especially deep, not just because of her age, but because of all the moments she never got the chance to live. Her story now lives on through memories, shared tears, and the love that surrounds her family.
Louis Carbonneau, 54, was a familiar face in the St. Helena community. He carried with him a lifetime of experiences, relationships, and quiet impact. To those who knew him, he was more than a name in a report. He was part of daily life, part of the fabric of the community. His absence is felt in subtle ways that words struggle to capture.
Investigators spent hours at the crash site, carefully examining the wreckage and piecing together what happened in those final moments. Sea Island Parkway was shut down in both directions during the response and investigation, reopening only after the scene was cleared. Authorities say the cause of the crash is still under investigation, and no further details have been released.
As Beaufort County mourns, the focus has shifted to healing and remembrance. Candles, prayers, and quiet conversations now mark a place where two lives ended too soon. In the midst of unanswered questions, the community stands united in grief, honoring Amya Fields and Louis Carbonneau not for how they died, but for the lives they lived and the people they touched.
