Over the weekend, tragedy struck in downtown Charleston as two young women, both 20 years old, lost their lives in a hit-and-run accident near the entry of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The victims have been identified as Lizzy Zito and Arianna Gamber by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office on April 29. Both individuals hailed from Simpsonville, near Greenville. It has been confirmed that Zito was a student at the College of Charleston, where she was pursuing a degree in psychology.
Zito’s passing occurred just two weekends before her anticipated graduation, where she would have received her degree after completing her studies in just three years. The College of Charleston extends its deepest sympathies to Lizzy’s family, friends, peers, professors, staff, and all who knew her. “We kindly request that you keep Lizzy’s family and friends in your thoughts during this extremely challenging period,” stated Ron Menchaca, the College of Charleston’s vice president of marketing and communications.
According to the police, the two women were not jogging or exercising when the tragic incident occurred. A motorist crashed into them and fled the scene. Details about the activities of Zito and Gamber immediately before the collision have not been disclosed. The incident was reported at approximately 8:30 a.m. on April 28, when an individual contacted the police after discovering two individuals unconscious and unresponsive. The incident took place on Morrison Drive, between Harris and Cooper streets, on a sunny Sunday morning.
Morrison Drive is a busy four-lane road with a crosswalk located at Cooper Street. Many pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists frequently use this route to cross the Cooper River bridge. However, the duration of the traffic light is often lengthy, requiring several minutes for the pedestrian signal to transition from a red “don’t walk” hand to the white crossing sign.
On April 28, the Charleston Police Department’s major accident unit investigated the hit-and-run collision on the street. The investigation, prompted by the discovery of vehicle wreckage on the roadway, lasted for several hours. Limited information has been provided by the police regarding the inquiry. As of April 29, jail records indicate that no arrests have been made in connection with the fatalities, as confirmed by the police department in a statement.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Lizzy to support her family during this difficult time. “Hey, my name is Alex, Lizzy meant everything to me. The impact she had on people’s lives will forever be everlasting. I want to thank everyone in advance and know that we all love & appreciate every single one of you at this time. To give us all the time and space our family needs during this tragic and difficult time.”
