Delaware State Police have updated yesterday’s police pursuit that we told you about just minutes after it ended.
The Delaware State Police have charged a New Castle man with multiple offenses after he led them on a pursuit while driving under the influence of drugs.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, December 13, 2018, when a Trooper observed a white Kia Spectra, displaying a fictitious Pennsylvania registration, traveling US 202 northbound, south of Florence Avenue, in Wilmington.
The Trooper activated his emergency lights and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Officials said the operator failed to comply, accelerated and proceeded through a red light at the intersection with Florence Avenu, before proceeding onto the southbound right shoulder of US 202 while still traveling northbound, according to police.
The driver, later identified as Justin R. Eckenroad, 33, of New Castle, then ran a red light at the intersection of US 202 and Prospect Avenue before turning onto Mt. Lebanon Road, westbound, according to police. Once on Mt. Lebanon Rd. the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and failed to negotiate a turn at the intersection with Rockland and in turn struck a stone wall head-on. Upon impact, the engine compartment of the vehicle briefly caught fire.
The Trooper immediately approached the Kia and removed Eckenroad from the vehicle. He was then transported to the Christiana Hospital by Delaware State Police helicopter Trooper 4, where he was admitted with serious injuries.
Warrants are currently on file charging Eckenroad with the below-listed offenses.
Disregarding a Police Officers Signal
Driving While Suspended
Reckless Driving
DUI Drugs
Failure to have Insurance
Fictitious Registration
Unregistered Motor Vehicle
Failure to Signal
Driving the Wrong Way
Failure to Stop at Red Light
Failure to Stop at Stop Sign
Speeding
The warrants will be executed upon his discharge from the hospital.
Breaking Report
Talleyville-Area – At around 1:50 this afternoon a police pursuit near Talleyville ended at the intersection of Mt. Lebanon and Rockland Road when the fleeing vehicle slammed into a stone wall.
As Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle they reported that it was on fire, just seconds later they reported that the vehicle had crashed. Early indications are that the driver failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into a stone wall partially shearing off the front of the vehicle.
Troopers reported that the driver was injured and requested assistance from the fire department.
Trooper 4 (Delaware State Police Aviation), originally dispatched to assist in the pursuit was told to stay in the air as they would be needed to transport the driver to the hospital.
It’s believed that the driver was fleeing from an injury accident at Concord Pike and Mt. Lebanon Road. That has not been confirmed.
Troopers have closed Mt. Lebanon and Rockland Road in the area of the crash.
The landing zone for the helicopter is the Naamans Little League baseball fields at Concord Pike and Mt. Lebanon Road.
Update: The patient has been transported to the Trauma Center at Christiana Hospital in Stanton
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