A Wilmington man is facing multiple charges after crashing into a police vehicle during an early morning DUI incident in Newport.
According to the New Castle County Division of Police, the incident occurred on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m. A New Castle County Police Officer was assisting a Newport Police Officer with a crash investigation on southbound Route 141 above East Ayre Street. The officer had positioned his fully marked police Tahoe behind the Newport Police vehicle and activated emergency equipment to create a visible safety buffer. A second New Castle County officer arrived shortly after in another marked Tahoe and also activated emergency lights to enhance the safety perimeter.
At approximately 3:03 a.m., while all three officers were outside their vehicles, a white GMC Yukon driven by 40-year-old Francisco Santos struck the rear of one of the New Castle County Police vehicles, causing a chain reaction that resulted in the second police SUV being hit. Santos was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
Santos was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters where he was charged with three felony counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, one felony count of criminal mischief over $5,000, and multiple misdemeanor charges including resisting arrest, DUI, driving with a suspended license, and several traffic offenses. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $18,700 secured bail. No officers were injured in the crash.
