Man Arrested After Fleeing Crash with Serious Injuries, Discarding Handgun in Atlantic City

Shore News Network

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – On August 27, 2020, a man was arrested after fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured two pedestrians and discarding a handgun before his arrest.

At 2:12 pm, patrol officers responded to the eastbound side of Route 40 before West End Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving two pedestrians with two men fleeing the scene from the involved vehicle.

Officers arrived to find two men suffering from serious injuries after being struck by the car. Both men were transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division. One victim’s injuries are considered life-threatening.

Witnesses of the crash immediately began to provide responding officers with a description of the fleeing driver and passenger. Within minutes, Officer Robert Nawrocki spotted the men on the Peter F. Egnor Bridge and stopped them. The driver, Derek Wiley, was arrested after being identified and found to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The passenger was later released without charges.

As officers were on the bridge, they were approached by employees from a nearby business that Wiley discarded a handgun underneath the tire of a vehicle. Officers reviewed surveillance coverage from the area confirming the statement. The loaded handgun with a defaced serial number was recovered.


An investigation by Officer Tyler Daily of the Accident Investigations Section revealed that Wiley was operating a Hyundai Sonata recklessly at a high rate of speed when he attempted to overtake a vehicle in front of him by using the shoulder of the road. Once on the shoulder, Wiley’s vehicle collided with a parked car. After colliding with the car, Wiley drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk where he struck the pedestrians before the vehicle became disabled further down the road.

ARRESTED: Derek Wiley, 22, of Philadelphia, PA.

CHARGES: Two counts each of aggravated assault, assault by auto, and leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, single counts of endangering an injured victim, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm, tampering with evidence, DWI, and multiple motor vehicle summons.

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