April 1, 2026
Charleston, SC – A growing number of recent arrests across North Charleston is shedding light on the serious legal consequences tied to DUI offenses and hit-and-run incidents. From multi-vehicle crashes to fatal collisions, these cases demonstrate how quickly a traffic violation can escalate into felony charges with life-altering consequences.
Law enforcement activity throughout early 2026 and late 2025 shows a consistent pattern: impaired driving, failure to remain at the scene, and reckless behavior continue to pose significant risks across Charleston-area roadways.
In one incident, a driver allegedly caused a multi-vehicle crash and attempted to leave the scene before being detained by witnesses. He was later charged with DUI, failure to render aid, and driving without a license.
View full details of this Charleston DUI hit-and-run crash involving multiple vehicles:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/cardona-lopez-roger-anibal-driving-under-influence-bac-refusal-and-2-additional
Another case involved a hit-and-run crash with a motorcycle that left two victims with great bodily injuries. Investigators reported the driver fled the scene before being located nearby. The suspect now faces multiple felony charges tied to DUI and leaving the scene.
Read about this Charleston felony DUI hit-and-run involving serious injuries:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/solis-espinosa-fabian-felony-dui-great-bodily-injury-and-2-additional-charges
A similar case from late 2025 involved a four-vehicle crash that resulted in a motorcyclist being seriously injured after a chain reaction collision. Police reported alcohol involvement and an open container inside the vehicle.
See details from this Charleston felony DUI crash involving multiple vehicles:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/bravo-juarez-osvaldo-felony-dui-bodily-injury-and-2-additional-charges
One of the most severe recent cases involved a pedestrian struck and killed on Rivers Avenue, where the driver allegedly fled the scene.
Police later charged a suspect with leaving the scene of an accident involving death, one of the most serious traffic-related offenses under South Carolina law.
View details from this fatal Charleston hit-and-run investigation:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/kaul-jacob-montgomery-leaving-scene-accident-involving-death
Cases involving fatalities can carry significant prison time and long-term legal consequences.
Other recent arrests highlight how common hit-and-run incidents have become across the Charleston area.
In one case, a driver was charged after allegedly causing a crash that led to a vehicle rollover before fleeing the scene. Officers later located the suspect and connected him to multiple collisions.
Read about this Charleston hit-and-run crash that resulted in a rollover:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/ramey-justin-daniel-hit-and-run-and-1-additional-charge
In another incident, a suspect was charged after crashing into a commercial building and leaving the scene. Police used surveillance footage and city cameras to identify and locate the driver.
See details from this Charleston hit-and-run involving property damage:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/gonzales-hector-jr-reckless-driving-and-2-additional-charges
A separate case involved a hit-and-run crash that left two individuals seriously injured after a motorcycle was struck. Evidence and witness accounts led officers to locate the suspect vehicle shortly after the incident.
View details from this Charleston hit-and-run with great bodily injury:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/vasquez-bravo-francisco-hit-and-run-great-bodily-injury-x2
Not all DUI cases involve major crashes, but they still carry serious consequences.
In one recent stop on I-26, officers pulled over a driver for speeding and reported signs of impairment, including slurred speech and the odor of alcohol. The driver refused field sobriety and breath testing.
Read about this DUI arrest following a high-speed traffic stop in Charleston:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/gonzales-fermin-driving-under-influence-1st-offense/
Another traffic stop for an expired registration led to multiple charges, including DUI, open container violations, and operating an uninsured vehicle. Officers also reported the presence of alcohol and suspected marijuana inside the vehicle.
See details from this Charleston DUI arrest with multiple violations:
https://crimewatch.net/us/sc/charleston/north-charleston-pd/311885/arrests/lee-kimuel-brice-dui-first-offense-and-3-additional-charges
These incidents highlight several important legal realities:
For many drivers, the biggest mistake is assuming a situation is minor or that leaving the scene will reduce consequences. In reality, it often leads to far more severe charges.
All individuals referenced in these cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Information is based on publicly available law enforcement reports and may be subject to change.
