Judge denies request preventing DNA collection from accused in deadly Morrison Drive hit-and-run

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A Charleston County judge denied a request that would have prevented police from collecting the DNA of a suspect in a deadly double hit-and-run that killed two young women, including a College of Charleston senior.

According to the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the judge denied defense attorney Chris Adams’s request to prevent Charleston Police from collecting DNA from Max Gentilin.

Gentilin is the second person accused of running over 20-year-olds Lizzy Zito and Ariana Gamber and then leaving the scene on an April Sunday morning.

Investigators say initially, a pickup truck driven by 32-year-old Seth Carlson hit Zito and Gamber while they were walking in the pedestrian/bike lane on Morrison Drive around 1:12 a.m. Carlson then left and later crashed into a ditch off Sam Rittenburg Boulevard.

At about 1:43 a.m., a car driven by 25-year-old Gentilin is seen on surveillance footage veering off the road and running over the curb on Morrison Drive, striking Zito and Gamber.

The two girls were found by citizens around 8:30 a.m., and police responded. Zito and Gamber were pronounced dead on the scene.

On April 30, Gentilin turned himself in to police. He is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. A judge granted Gentilin bond, and he has been out of custody ever since.

After continuing the investigation, police arrested Carlson on May 6. He is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and two counts of reckless vehicular homicide.

Carlson was granted bond and released from the Al Cannon Detention Center.