OC Coroner says Hipps died of Head Injury

Tuesday’s autopsy on the body of 19-year-old Tucker Hipps of Piedmont showed he died of a head injury. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis released autopsy findings that revealed the Clemson University student died Monday of a head injury was consistent with an unsupported fall. Addis added about the injury, saying, “It is consistent with him falling from one of the spans, which is approximately 20 to 23 feet above the water surface. He was found in a depth of water between 4 to 5 feet and the lake bottom in the area he fell is formed with rip rock.” Addis made no ruling on the manner of death, saying that awaits law enforcement investigation and toxicology analysis, which could take weeks.