RAVENEL— A 69-year-old woman died after an SUV collided with a pickup truck on Savannah Highway near the Caw Caw Interpretive Center at approximately 8 p.m. on March 7.
Phyllis Miller of Beaufort County was a passenger in the SUV, which was traveling south when a pickup truck changed lanes in front of it. The impact resulted in injuries to Miller and three other passengers in the SUV, all of whom were transported to a local hospital. Miller was later pronounced dead, according to the Charleston County Coroner's Office.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 44-year-old Ricardo Hernandez-Martinez, was not injured. He has been arrested at the scene and charged with felony DUI causing great bodily injury or death. If convicted, this charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding the circumstances leading to the felony DUI charge, including whether a blood alcohol test was administered. A full incident report is pending.
Hernandez-Martinez was booked into the Charleston County Jail on the evening of March 8, where a magistrate denied bond. He is currently under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, according to inmate records.