YOUNG LIFE LOST: 22-Year-Old Aaliyah Shyann Sisk Killed in Cherokee County Crash During Police Pursuit
CHEROKEE COUNTY, SC — A community is mourning the tragic loss of a young woman whose life was cut short in the early hours of Saturday, July 19, following a devastating vehicle crash during a police pursuit. The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the victim as Aaliyah Shyann Sisk, 22, of Meadow Lane.
The incident occurred around 2:50 a.m. on Dravo Road near Blacksburg, when the vehicle Sisk was riding in—a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe—lost control and crashed into an embankment at the intersection of Dravo Road Extension.
According to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, the Tahoe was being pursued by law enforcement at the time of the crash. Sisk, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered fatal injuries when her head struck the windshield on impact. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Sisk was riding in the front seat of a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe that was being pursued by police when it crashed into a bank at the intersection of Dravo Road Extension at 2:50 a.m. Sisk’s head struck the windshield on impact. She died at the scene,” Fowler confirmed in a public statement.
The driver of the vehicle, whose identity has not yet been released, is believed to have survived the crash. Officials have not yet disclosed the reason for the police pursuit or whether charges are pending. The crash remains under active investigation by local authorities.
An autopsy is scheduled to assist in the forensic investigation, which will help determine the exact cause of death and whether any contributing factors, such as alcohol or drug use, were involved.
News of Aaliyah’s sudden and tragic death has sent shock and sorrow throughout the Cherokee County community. Family, friends, and classmates describe her as a kind-hearted, energetic young woman who had so much life ahead of her. Social media has since been filled with tributes and expressions of grief.
“We were just laughing together a few days ago,” one friend posted. “Now you’re gone, and my heart is broken. I’ll never forget your light.”
The loss is especially painful for her family, who are now navigating the heartbreaking reality of preparing to bury a daughter, sister, and beloved young woman who had her whole future ahead of her.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, is expected to release more details as the investigation progresses. For now, those who knew Aaliyah Shyann Sisk are left to grieve, remember, and honor the short but beautiful life she lived.
A memorial service is expected to be announced in the coming days.