Police: Woman throws snake at driver in carjacking

Associated Press
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 12:39 p.m. | Wednesday, July 10, 2019 12:39 p.m.

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Greenville Police Department via AP

This photo provided by the Greenville Police Department shows Hilmary Moreno-Berrios. Police say Moreno-Berrios stole a vehicle after throwing a nonpoisonous snake at the driver, then crashed through barricades set up for a pole vaulting exhibition Friday, July 5, 2019, in the South Carolina city.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Police say a woman stole a vehicle after throwing a snake at the driver, then crashed through barricades set up for a pole-vaulting exhibition in South Carolina.

In a statement, Greenville Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Hilmary Moreno-Berrios. They she was hurt in Friday’s crash and released from the hospital Monday.

Authorities say Moreno-Berrios demanded a woman’s keys and threw a live black snake at her. They say she then drove the stolen SUV with the snake still in it into barriers set up for the Liberty Bridge Jump-Off.

Moreno-Berrios is charged with carjacking, malicious damage to property and five traffic violations. It wasn’t known whether she had a lawyer to contact for comment on her behalf.

Police say the snake wasn’t venomous and was released in nearby woods.