AIKEN - A robbery that began at a North Augusta jewelry store Thursday morning turned deadly 45 minutes later in Lexington County, when the fleeing suspect crashed and killed a state transportation worker, authorities said.

Michael A. Wilson, of the 7400 block of Creekwood Drive in Columbia, was pronounced dead at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital at 12:05 p.m. from multiple head and body trauma, according to the Lexington County Coroner's Office.

Authorities say 21-year-old James C. Cobbert of Hopkins, started the tragic chain of events by stealing two rings from Stan Johnson Jewelry on Edgefield Road and running from police in two counties until he crashed into Mr. Wilson's Chevy Blazer on South Carolina Highway 302.

Mr. Cobbert is facing a single charge of strong-arm robbery in Aiken County but likely will face more serious charges in Lexington County, said Lt. Michael Frank with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

"The agency with the most serious charges will get first crack at him, and everyone else will line up," he said.

According to Lt. Frank, the trouble began at 10:30 a.m. when a man ran from the store with two rings on his finger valued at $2,800.

The store owner chased him to a stolen Ford Focus parked two blocks away, which the thief drove on U.S. Highway 25 to Interstate 20, thwarting attempts by a passing motorist to block his escape, Lt. Frank said.

That motorist passed on the Ford's tag number, and an Aiken sheriff's deputy spotted him and chased him into Pelion, a small town east of Aiken County.

The Pelion Police Department then took over the chase, Lt. Frank said. The Lexington County Coroner's Office said Mr. Cobbert's car struck Mr. Wilson's vehicle from behind.

Reach Sandi Martin at (803) 648-1395, ext. 111, or sandi.martin@augustachronicle.com.