A Trooper received minor injuries yesterday evening after a van full of suspects fleeing from a shoplifting crashed into his patrol vehicle.
The incident began at 7:28 p.m. when Troopers received a report of a white U-Haul van that had just left The Home Depot, 2000 Peoples Plaza, full of merchandise that had been stolen from the store.
A Trooper spotted the van near the intersection of Pulaski Highway (U.S. Route 40) and South College Avenue (St. Rt. 896). When the Trooper activated his vehicle’s emergency lights, the van immediately fled. Due to the reckless manner in which the van was being driven, Troopers were not able to catch up to it, but attempted to follow the van as it traveled north on South College Avenue and then north on I-95.
After entering I-95 the van traveled north, through heavy traffic, on the left shoulder of the roadway. A Trooper who had been stopped on the right shoulder on I-95 northbound, north of St. Rt. 273, began traveling left, across the traffic lanes, in an attempt to locate the fleeing van. As the Trooper entered the left lane the van moved from the left shoulder to the left traffic lane, striking the Trooper’s fully marked 2013 Chevrolet Caprice patrol vehicle, which had its emergency lights activated.
All five of the van’s occupants immediately exited the vehicle. Arriving Troopers were able to take three into custody immediately. Two fled on foot. One of the fleeing suspects was apprehended near the scene of the crash, the other was not located.
All four suspects were transported to Christiana Hospital. Two were treated for minor injuries and released. Two remain hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Trooper involved in the crash, who is assigned to Troop 6, was transported by ambulance to Christiana Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
This incident is still under investigation. More information will be released once the suspects are charged later today.
