The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a vehicle crash involving a Delaware State Trooper that occurred yesterday south of Milton, Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz.
Bratz the preliminary investigation has determined the crash occurred at approximately 12:22 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018, as patrol units from Delaware State Police Troop 7 were actively searching for a burglary suspect reported to be a white male on a bicycle with a thin build, approximately 20 to 30 years old, in the area of the Lazy Lake and Hunters Mill Estates communities. Recent video surveillance of a burglarized residence supported the description information, according to Bratz.
The trooper, operating a fully marked 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle, was traveling northbound on Fisher Road (CR 262) approaching the intersection of Lewes-Georgetown Highway when he located a man riding a bicycle southbound matching the suspect’s description. The Trooper turned around and activated the emergency lights and siren in an effort to get the subject to stop however he refused and continued to travel southbound on Fisher Road.
The trooper ordered and directed verbal commands toward the subject to stop. The man ignored numerous verbal commands and continued to flee, according to Bratz. As the pursuit of the suspect continued the two vehicles were involved in a collision.
The subject, a 32-year-old male, was transported to Beebe Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced deceased.
The trooper, properly restrained at the time, was not injured in the collision. The 28-year-old trooper has been employed by the Delaware State Police for four years and is assigned to Troop 7 patrol in Lewes, DE. He has been placed on administrative leave per Divisional Policy, pending the outcome of the investigation.
This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.
Fisher Road south of Lewes-Georgetown Highway south of Milton was closed in the area of the crash for approximately four hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.