BEAR, DE – A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged after driving his vehicle through a fatal crash investigation scene on Christmas night.
Driver arrested for DUI
According to the Delaware State Police, 29-year-old Javier Rodriguez of Newark was arrested for reckless endangering, DUI, and other charges after he drove through a police investigation scene of a fatal crash while driving under the influence.
DSP reported that at approximately 11:34 p.m., troopers were at the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision in Pulaski Highway and Becks Wood Drive in Bear.
DelDOT closed the Pulaski Highway
“DelDOT crew members had closed westbound Pulaski Highway at Salem Church Road, and detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) were investigating the scene. At this time, a 2016 gray Dodge Journey was traveling westbound on Pulaski Highway approaching this intersection,” DSP said in a statement. “The driver of the Journey bypassed the DelDOT lane closures, disregarded the emergency vehicle lights and arrow boards that were being used to close the road, and continued westbound.”
Driver refused police orders to stop
As a trooper attempted to stop the Journey, the driver failed to stop on command and continued through the accident scene, almost striking DelDOT workers and CRU detectives. There was no injury involved in this incident, as the Dodge came to a halt in the parking lot of the Rivera Taco Express restaurant, after which the driver, identified as Javier Rodriguez, was taken into custody without further incident.
Rodriguez was subsequently taken to Troop 2 and charged with Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony) – two counts, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony), Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, and Several traffic offenses.
Rodriguez was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court # 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $8,103 secured bond.