A North Augusta man was jailed after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend out of a moving vehicle while approaching an interstate exit, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
Shane Elliott, 36, of West Buena Vista Avenue, was charged with criminal domestic violence and simple possession of marijuana. He was placed in the Aiken County detention center, where he remained Saturday evening.
The incident happened about 1:45 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 20, according to a sheriff's report. The 34-year-old victim told officers Elliott was traveling at "an extremely high rate of speed" and told her "she was going to die tonight."
The victim said Elliott took the Bettis Academy Road exit, and that while he was slowing down for a turn, she opened the passenger door and tried to flee, police said. Elliott then "drastically increased" the vehicle's speed and then shoved her from the car, causing her to fall into the roadway. He turned around, stopped, exited the vehicle and began striking the woman in the head with a closed fist.
Elliott told the victim to get back in the car, but she said she would only get in if he let her drive, police said. Elliott agreed, but the victim drove until she found a gas station and ran inside to get help. Elliott fled on foot.
Elliott told officers the victim was "distraught and angry over work" and jumped from the vehicle despite his attempts to stop her, the report states. Officers saw multiple lacerations and scrapes all over the victim's body.
Officers also found a small plastic bag in Elliott's backpack containing a leafy green substance believed to be marijuana, police said.