A 30-year-old man was arrested on Monday following a dramatic crash that left two people critically injured in North Charleston. The crash, which occurred Sunday night, involved a red Fiat driven by Kevin Serrano and a silver Toyota Avalon, resulting in an explosive collision witnessed by a North Charleston police officer.
The Crash and Its Impact
Around 11:28 p.m. on Sunday, the officer was sitting at the intersection of Greenridge Road and Rivers Avenue when the collision happened right in front of them. Fire and emergency medical services (EMS) were immediately notified.
Serrano, driving the Fiat, collided with another vehicle, causing the Fiat to explode and burst into flames upon impact. The silver Toyota Avalon, which had been struck, flipped and rolled down the street.
Officer’s Quick Response
The officer, who witnessed the horrific scene, rushed to the Fiat engulfed in flames. He managed to pull both Serrano and an unidentified passenger from the burning vehicle. The police report notes that both the car and Serrano smelled strongly of alcohol, and a bottle of Modelo beer was found inside the vehicle.
Critical Injuries and Fire Crews’ Efforts
Fire crews had to use specialized tools to extricate one of the passengers from the flipped Toyota Avalon. Both women inside the Toyota were critically injured and were immediately treated by EMS. The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) arrived to assist with the investigation.
High Speed and DUI Charges
An investigating trooper revealed that the speedometer of the Fiat was stuck at 100 mph, indicating the high speed at the time of the crash. “The trooper told me that this is common in major vehicle accidents like this, where the speedometer will often get stuck at the last known speed at impact,” the report states.
Law enforcement reported that Serrano was “grossly intoxicated” with red, glassy eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. He was charged with two counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury, reckless driving, open container in a vehicle, and driving without a license.
Immigration Hold and Bond
Serrano was granted a bond of $150,929.50, but he remains in custody due to a hold by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). News 2 has reached out to ICE for further details on the hold and its reasons.