UDel student killed, 7 others injured by suspects fleeing in U-Haul: officials

UDel student killed, 7 others injured by suspects fleeing in U-Haul

Two suspects are in custody after police say they struck and killed a University of Delaware student with a U-Haul truck, leaving several others injured near campus Tuesday evening.

NEWARK, DE - Two suspects are in custody after police say they struck and killed a University of Delaware student with a U-Haul truck, leaving several others injured near campus Tuesday evening.

What we know:

At around 4:30 p.m., Newark police officers say they located a U-Haul truck that had been reported as an unauthorized use vehicle on April 28. The vehicle was originally rented but police say it was not returned when it was due on March 18.

The truck was found parked in a lot in the 200 block of East Main Street and was occupied by two suspects.

As officers tried to arrest the suspects, they say the truck fled the scene, drove over a curb and struck a marked police vehicle. 

The suspects then exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed. 

Newark officers did not engage in a pursuit and remained in the shopping center.

At approximately 4:35 p.m., the suspect continued in the vehicle, traveling westbound on East Main Street at a high rate of speed before striking two pedestrians who were alongside a parked vehicle. 

The truck then crashed into multiple parked vehicles before becoming disabled further west on Main Street.

Upon arrival, officers attempted life-saving measures on the first pedestrian victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The University of Delaware confirmed in a statement to the community that the pedestrian killed in the crash was a student, and that other students were also injured.

Police say the second pedestrian sustained serious injuries.  The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. 

Upon locating the disabled U-Haul truck, officers detained both the driver and the passenger. 

The driver sustained serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

According to Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Company, three more people were taken to a local emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Three others were treated on scene for minor injuries and declined further medical treatment or transport.

Main St is expected to be closed in the area of South Chapel St. for an extended period of time as the investigation continues. 

Traffic is being diverted and is slowly moving north and south.

This is an active scene with an active investigation.   

Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

What they're saying:

"The guy was running from police. That’s no good" said Charlie Kern of Newark. Kern had just parked his car on Main Street to pick up some food.  

He came out two minutes later to chaos. 

The U-Haul clipped his SUV and was inside the crime scene for hours.

"They were chasing the car about 10 cop cars came barreling down after the guy. I saw the guy in handcuffs a minute later. They got there fast" Kern said.

No one answered when Fox 29 called the Rockville, MD U-Haul store.

Those who regularly stroll this strip in the college town are still in shock.

 "It’s honestly sad it’s probably the saddest things I’ve seen out here" said Elken Bansah a news photographer from Newark.