MORNING NEWSBREAK | Charleston will have more checkpoints to scope for impaired drivers as part of a response to the April 28 traffic deaths of two 20-year-old women on Morrison Drive.
In announcing the immediate enhanced enforcement initiative, Charleston Mayor William Cogswell referred to the accident in which Lizzy Zito and Arianna Gander, both of Simpsonville, died after apparently being hit by two different cars in the wee hours of the morning. Police have arrested two men in the accident that officials said should have been preventable.
“Our hearts ache for the loss of Lizzy and Arianna, two vibrant young women taken from us too soon due to a preventable tragedy,” Cogswell said in a release. “Their untimely deaths serve as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding our community against impaired driving.
“Charleston has zero tolerance for drunk driving. We owe it to our community and to Lizzy and Arianna’s families that tragedies like this never happen again.”
In past releases, police have not mentioned drunken driving as a factor in the accidents. Neither of the two men are charged with driving while impaired.
“We are taking very decisive action, moving forward and establishing checkpoints on the major thoroughfares and around the city to check for drunk driving,” Cogswell said in the release. “It is, to me, inexcusable to have people get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. And again, this tragedy could have been prevented.”
Police will be stationing DUI checkpoints on the major thoroughfares across Charleston to root out impaired drivers, the mayor said. The locations of the checkpoints will be announced later this week and start this weekend.
There have been 92 DUI arrests in the past two months, which is slightly up from the amount of arrests during the same time last year.
In other news today:
CP FOOD: Food & Wine Classic pass now available. You can now buy tickets, or rather, weekend passes to the inaugural Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, a fall food festival hosted by Food & Wine, Southern Living and Travel + Leisure and presented by Explore Charleston. Weekend passes are $2,450 and can be purchased online.
Charleston Co., Lowcountry region ranked No. 1 in S.C. individual tax debt. Charleston and the Lowcountry region ranked as number one for the most individual tax debt in South Carolina, according to the Department of Revenue with Charleston County residents owing $6.7 million and the Lowcountry a combined total of $13.7 million.
Board of Charleston’s IAAM names next leader. Longtime International African American Museum director Grady Crosby, a Milwaukee insurance executive from North Carolina, will now take the helm as chair as the museum approaches its one-year anniversary.
Middleton Place manager marks 50 years of preserving historic site. Longtime Middleton Place manager Sidney Frazier is celebrating 50 years of stewardship, historical preservation and making his own history at the historic site.
Charlestonians voice concerns over restaurant parking plan. Community members living near the corner of Courtland and Rutledge avenues made sure their concerns were heard regarding a potential restaurant coming to the area, which filed for a variance request to allow vehicles to back onto a public right of way.
Charleston-based organization helping residents find affordable housing. Charleston-based organization CoLife is doing what it can to help connect young professionals with housing resources.
Isle of Palms noise ordinance drafted headed to city council. Isle of Palms leaders say they have been workshopping a proper noise ordinance for years, and this summer could be the time to put a version of the noise rules to the test. Also in Isle of Palms, the city is adding additional safety measures after several reports of coyotes.
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