Middletown, DE – Delaware State Police arrested a 51-year-old Maryland man Friday after he allegedly stole a pickup truck from a motorist who stopped to help following a crash on Route 301.
Troopers identified the suspect as David Thornton of Essex, Maryland.
The incident began around 1:15 p.m. when a Texas man driving a white Chevrolet Silverado stopped near Summit Bridge Road to assist after witnessing a two-vehicle collision involving Thornton’s Mercedes.
Suspect fled in Good Samaritan’s truck
As the victim called 911, police said Thornton entered the driver’s seat of the Silverado. When the victim tried to intervene by opening the back door, Thornton reached for an object, ordered him out, and sped away in the stolen truck.
Troopers used electronic tracking to locate the Silverado a short time later on the ramp from northbound I-95 to Airport Road, where it had crashed into a guardrail. Thornton was taken into custody without incident.
BB gun recovered inside vehicle
A search of the Silverado revealed a revolver-style CO2 BB gun inside. Thornton was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the earlier crashes before being transported to Troop 2 for processing.
He was charged with multiple offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $20,000 cash bond.
