The Delaware State Police arrested a 36-year-old Dover man for DUI and related charges following a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Wednesday evening in Townsend.
Officials said on January 24, 2024, at approximately 5:19 p.m., a 2023 Kia Soul was traveling on US Route 13 (Dupont Parkway) northbound, north of Blackbird Landing Road in Townsend.
The preliminary investigation showed that the Kia was reported to have been traveling in an erratic manner leading up to the impact with a 40-year-old pedestrian.
Police said they have yet to determine if the pedestrian was in the right lane or shoulder of US Route 13 northbound at the time of the crash. The pedestrian was wearing bright reflective-colored clothing for the dark and unlit roadway conditions. Sources tell FSU that the man was jogging when he was hit.
After the crash, the Kia came to a stop on the right shoulder of US Route 13 and became engulfed in flames. Officials did not say why the vehicle caught fire.
The pedestrian, a man from Townsend, Delaware, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.
The driver of the Kia was not injured and appeared to be under the influence of a drug according to police. A DUI investigation was initiated and impairment was suspected to be a factor police said. The driver was taken to Troop 9, where he was charged with Driving Under the Influence of a Drug, Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance, Driving While Suspended, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Future charges are pending as the incident continues to be investigated according to police.
The passengers of the Kia, a 23-year-old woman and a 4-year-old child, both from Dover were taken to an area hospital by ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries.
The roadway was closed for approximately 4 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.