Greenwood, DE – Delaware State Police arrested 37-year-old Jesse A. Nichols of Seaford after leading troopers on a pursuit in a vehicle that was stolen in a burglary.

On November 25, 2020, at approximately 3:33 p.m., a 59-year-old male responded to his relatives’ residence on Nine Foot Rood, Greenwood, to check on the home. Upon arrival to the dwelling, the front door was observed forced open and a light blue 2012 Nissan Versa missing from the residence. After discovering the vehicle was missing, the male contacted another family member on the telephone to inform them of the incident. As the family member was traveling on Milford Harrington Highway, they observed the stolen vehicle traveling eastbound on Milford Harrington Highway. 9-1-1 was called, and up to date locations of the car was provided to the dispatch center. As a trooper located the stolen vehicle, a traffic stop was initiated, but it failed to stop and subsequently crashed in the area of Deep Grass Lane and Thistlewood Road, Houston. The operator and sole occupant, later identified as Jesse Nichols, was taken into custody without incident. A search incident to arrest resulted in several pieces of stolen jewelry and property from the residence on Nine Foot Road located on Nichols and in plain view inside the vehicle.

Nichols was transported to Troop 3, where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Burglary 2nd Degree (Felony)
• Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
• Theft Over $5,000 (Felony)
• Criminal Mischief
• Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Aggressive Driving
• Reckless Driving
• Failure to Have Insurance Identification
• Failure to Have Registration in Possession
• Driving at Unreasonable Speed (3 counts)
• Improper Passing
• Failure to Signal (2 counts)
• Failure to Obey Traffic Device
• Failure to Remain within a Single Lane (2 counts)
• Driving While Suspended

Nichols was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #11 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $15,610.00 cash bond.

Newark, DE – Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that claimed the lives of two individuals late last night.

The incident occurred on November 25, 2020, at approximately 10:40 p.m., when a 2000 Honda Civic operated by a 22-year-old male of North East, MD, was traveling northbound on I-95 in the left center lane north of the Churchman’s Road overpass. A vehicle not involved in the crash merged from the right-center lane into the left-center lane and caused the Civic to lose control and strike the concrete Jersey barrier. The Civic then became disabled in the left lane of I-95 northbound.

A 29-year-old male of North East, MD, that was traveling in front of the Civic pulled over on the shoulder after witnessing the collision and exited his vehicle to check on the operator of the Civic. At the same time, a 2020 Kia Stinger was rapidly approaching the disabled Civic in the left lane. The Operator of the Stinger, a 20-year-old male of Wilmington, DE, veered his vehicle into the left shoulder to avoid striking the Civic but ultimately side swiped the Civic and struck the 29-year-old male standing on the shoulder. After being struck, the pedestrian came to rest in the left southbound lane of I-95, where he was struck by a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro operated by a 19-year-old of Newark, DE.

After striking the pedestrian, the Kia continued traveling out of control until it struck the rear of a 2018 Ford Focus operated by a 25-year-old female of Delmar, DE, who slowed down in the left lane to assist the disabled motorist. The impact caused the Focus to be pushed forward and strike the concrete Jersey barrier on the left shoulder.

The operator and passenger of the Honda Civic were not injured in the collision. The operator and passenger of the Kia Stinger were both transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. The operator of the Chevy Camaro was not injured in this collision.

The operator of the Ford Focus was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the collision scene. Both names are being withheld at this time pending the notifications of next of kin.

During the course of the initial investigation, only the two left lanes for southbound I-95 were closed to vehicular traffic. On the northbound side, the left three lanes were closed to vehicular traffic.

This crash remains an active and ongoing investigation.  Anyone with information regarding the crash should contact Det. Calio of the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit by calling 302-365-8483. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com

New Castle, DE – On November 25, 2020: at 10:41 p.m. New Castle County Paramedic were dispatched to assist Minquas Fire Company #1 and Christiana Fire  Company for a motor vehicle collision on Interstate 95 in the area of Churchmans Road. Responding units were advised of one subjected ejected and another trapped in a separate vehicle. Multiple vehicles were involved in the incident which shut down the interstate in both directions for some time. Four total patients were assessed by EMS personnel. One patient was deceased at the scene. Two patients were transported to Christiana Hospital with one in critical condition and a second in stable condition. A fourth patient refused service. (photos provided by John Jankowski)