The Charleston Police Department has made a second arrest in connection with the fatal hit-and-run that claimed the lives of 20-year-olds Arianna Gamber and Lizzy Zito on Morrison Drive on April 28. Seth Alan Gilbert William Carlson, a 32-year-old man from Summerville, was arrested on May 6, according to a statement from the Charleston Police Department.
An investigation led police to believe that Carlson hit the two women at 1:12 a.m. before fleeing the scene. About 30 minutes later, Max David Gentilin drove along the same stretch of road, lost control of his car, traveled onto the curb, and ran into the women again before driving off and abandoning his vehicle nearby, police said.
The victims were not found until 8:32 a.m. Surveillance footage from the S.C. Ports Authority revealed Carlson struck the victims when he drove off the roadway as they walked near the bike lane on Morrison Drive, police say. Carlson’s Chevrolet truck was located abandoned in West Ashley after he crashed into a ditch and fled on foot, according to police.
Carlson is charged with two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The case is still under investigation, and more charges are possible. Gentilin was arrested and charged with two counts of hit-and-run with death on May 1 and was granted bond and released from jail on May 2.
Both women were looking forward to celebrating their 21st birthdays later in May. Zito was a psychology major at the College of Charleston who was set to graduate in May. She loved animals and decided to work as a veterinary technician at an animal clinic near her hometown of Simpsonville while finishing her degree online.
Arianna Gamber and Lizzy Zito were visiting a friend in Charleston over the weekend when the tragic incident occurred. “We will continue to pursue justice for Lizzy and Arianna,” Police Chief Chito Walker said in a May 6 statement. “The tragedy of this case deepens with the realization that the decisions of two individuals have forever altered the lives of these two families.”
Defense attorney Chris Adams told The Post and Courier that he wishes police would have fully investigated prior to arresting his client. “While we appreciate the police department continuing to investigate the case, we really wish they had done the full investigation before they arrested Max,” Adams said.
Gentilin’s car was damaged in the collision, and his front passenger-side tire was flattened, according to arrest warrant affidavits. However, hair and blood from the victims were only found along the underside of his car, according to arrest warrant affidavits.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal hit-and-run. The community is mourning the loss of two young lives, and the families of the victims are seeking justice for their loved ones.
In conclusion, the Charleston Police Department has made a second arrest in connection with the fatal hit-and-run on Morrison Drive, charging Seth Alan Gilbert William Carlson with reckless vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The case is still under investigation, and more charges are possible. The community is seeking justice for the two young women who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
