Hartly – Just before 10:00 this morning, members of the Hartley Fire Company alerted Kent Center that a high-speed pursuit has ended in a crash next to the firehouse.
A witness at scene reported that a Maryland Officer was about quarter-mile behind the suspect when the driver failed to negotiate a slight bend in the road near the firehouse. The driver then went through a utility pole before crashing into a home next to the firehouse.
The crash brought down the powerlines knocking out power to over 30 customers, according to Delmarva Power. Hartly’s population is less than a hundred people so much of the city’s residents are likely affected.
One resident that did not want us to use his name said he lives near the firehouse and was approached by the suspect after the crash. After the suspect fled the crash he tried to steal the man’s truck out of his garage, according to the resident. “I had him at gunpoint until my dog chased him over my tax ditch fence.” He then fled into the woods. The resident said he thinks the suspect is still at large.
“The guy was definitely desperate. My gun 4 ft from his face had zero effect. He was more afraid of the 130lb dog.”
Shortly after the suspect fled the area officials with the fire department ordered the road closed due to the downed powerlines. Delmarva Power has been on scene for most of the day trying to restore power.
Residents are reported that temperatures have risen to 94 degrees inside their home. As of 5:30 the pole had reportedly been replaced with the wires being moved from the damaged police.
Crews were on-site throughout the day working to restore power to customers in the Hartly area following the vehicle accident, according to a Delmarva Power spokesman. Using the new technology we have installed on the local energy grid over the last few years, we were able to initially isolate the customers affected by this vehicle accident from 525 to 26.
We understand that it is difficult to be without power during this extreme weather and want our customers to know that our crews have worked throughout the day to restore service as quickly and safely as possible to our customers, which has involved replacing two poles in the area—a task that is very labor and time-intensive.
Maryland and Delaware State Police have yet to release details surrounding the incident. We will update the story as soon as they do.
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