Lopez / NCCPD
A New Castle County patrol vehicle was struck by a motorist earlier this morning on Route 141, according to police.
Officials said earlier this morning, June 1, 2018, at approximately 3:30 a.m. detectives from the New Castle County Police, Traffic Services Unit were dispatched to Route 141 southbound in the area of East Market Street, Newport. They were dispatched for an accident involving a fully marked New Castle County Police Patrol Tahoe and a black Chevy Equinox.
While on the scene the detectives learned the Patrol Officer was traveling Southbound on Route 141 in the left lane when he observed a vehicle approaching him from the rear at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The officer reported that he then heard tires skidding and shortly thereafter felt the impact of the of the speeding vehicle. The impact pushed the patrol vehicle to the left causing it to collide with the concrete barrier of Rt 141 southbound.
The officer sustained a minor injury in result of this crash was and was treated and released at Christiana Hospital.
The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox, 21-year-old Bryan S. Lopez, was not injured during the crash.
Bryan Lopez was later charged with Driving Under The Influence, Reckless Driving, and Driving with a Suspended License.