The Dover Police Department has released an update on the police pursuit that only FSU told you about.
Officials are investigating a carjacking that led to a vehicle pursuit and a serious motor vehicle collision early Thursday morning. The investigation began at 8:09 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Dover Police Department was notified of an armed carjacking that had occurred at the Wendy’s/Exxon located at 1710 North DuPont Highway Dover.
Officers responded and made contact with the victim, who advised that as he was returning to his car he was approached by two black males, wearing masks, and one of them was armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded the victim turn over his keys and he complied. The suspects then left in his vehicle, a 2013 Honda Accord, onto North DuPont Highway.
At approximately 2:28 a.m., officers on patrol observed the stolen vehicle in the area of North DuPont Highway and College Road. Officers tried to stop the vehicle however it drove away at a high rate of speed. Officers pursued the vehicle which took them to the intersection of North DuPont Highway and Route 42. The suspects were traveling eastbound on Route 42 approaching North DuPont Highway and failed to stop at the red light, causing it to hit the driver’s side of a 2020 Nissan Rogue that was traveling northbound on the highway.
Both drivers were entrapped in their respective vehicles and had to be removed by first responders.
The driver of the stolen Honda Accord, a 19-year-old from Camden, and the driver of the Nissan, a 53-year-old female from Hartly, were airlifted to a New Castle County Hospital for their injuries.
A passenger of the Honda, an 18-year-old from New York City, NY, was transported to an area hospital.
All individuals are still admitted to the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries and are in serious condition.
A stolen firearm was located in the suspects’ vehicle following a search.
Dover Police Detectives are still working to determine if this incident is related to the armed robbery that occurred at Wawa on Tuesday.
The Dover Police Department is not releasing the names of the suspects until they are formally charged. A separate release will be published at that time.
Breaking Report This Morning
Early Thursday morning, just after 2:30 a.m., rescue crews responded to a crash involving multiple injuries at the intersection of North DuPont Highway and Main Street in Cheswold. Upon arrival, responders discovered three individuals injured in two separate vehicles.
Preliminary information indicates that police officers were involved in a high-speed pursuit, chasing a vehicle northbound from Dover on DuPont Highway. The chase reportedly reached speeds exceeding 115 mph. The pursuit concluded when the vehicle being pursued collided with another vehicle in the intersection. The impact caused the fleeing vehicle to wrap around a utility pole, trapping one of the occupants.
One of the individuals, a woman believed to be in her 50s, who was in the vehicle struck during the crash, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Christiana Hospital for further treatment. The driver of the fleeing vehicle, also seriously injured, was similarly transported to Christiana Hospital by air. A third patient was taken to Bayhealth Hospital in Dover, though details regarding this individual’s vehicle or role in the collision remain unclear.
The reason behind the police pursuit and the driver’s attempt to evade authorities are currently unknown. Further details regarding the incident have yet to be disclosed.