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University of Delaware student killed, several hurt when driver flees from police, hits people near campus

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University of Delaware student killed, several hurt when driver flees from police, hits people near campus


A University of Delaware graduate student was killed and several other people were injured when a U-Haul truck driver fled from police and collided with people near campus, officials said.

“This is a gut-wrenching, senseless and intolerable crime … which was completely and totally avoidable,” Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said at a news conference Wednesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, officers in a shopping center parking lot spotted an empty U-Haul truck that had been reported Monday “as an unauthorized use vehicle” after it was rented but not returned when due last month, Newark police said.

Newark Police work at the scene of an accident involving a pedestrian on East Main Street, April 29, 2025, in Newark, Delaware.

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William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal/USAToday Network via Imagn Images

About 45 minutes later, Gordon Turner, 22, and a passenger returned to the truck. As officers moved in to arrest them, Turner drove over a curb, hit a marked police car and sped away onto the street, according to police.

“Newark Police officers did not initiate a pursuit,” police said in a statement. “All officers remained within the shopping center and did not follow Turner.”

Meanwhile, Turner allegedly sped down Main Street, lost control of the truck and hit two pedestrians, police said.

Newark Police work at the scene of an accident involving a pedestrian on East Main Street, April 29, 2025, in Newark, Delaware.

William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal/USAToday Network via Imagn Images

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His truck then allegedly hit several parked cars which had five people inside, police said, and those collisions caused a chain reaction where a parked car was pushed into another pedestrian.

The U-Haul then came to rest in front of a post office, police said.

One of the pedestrians hit — a 24-year-old University of Delaware graduate student — died at the scene, according to police.

The second pedestrian, also a 24-year-old University of Delaware graduate student, suffered serious injuries and is in the hospital in stable condition on Wednesday, police said.

Newark Police work at the scene of an accident involving a pedestrian on East Main Street, April 29, 2025, in Newark, Delaware.

William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal/USAToday Network via Imagn Images

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Another three victims were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and several people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, police said.

Officers responded to the disabled U-Haul and detained Turner and the passenger, police said.

“A student was murdered during an attempt by the defendant to evade a simple traffic stop by law enforcement. These students were not in the wrong place at the wrong time — they were nine young people out on a beautiful spring day,” Jennings said at the news conference. “Because of one person’s cruel and selfish decision, because of the defendant’s choice not to obey police officers, nine of those young people were injured. One of those young people will never go home.”

Charges against Turner include: second-degree murder — death caused during commission of a felony; second-degree murder — reckless conduct showing indifference to human life; and first-degree assault — conduct creating risk of death or serious injury, police said.

Gordon Turner, 22, of New Castle, Delaware, was arrested in connection with a deadly crash in Newark, Delaware, on April 29, 2025.

Newark Delaware Police

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“There will undoubtably be other charges,” Jennings said.

Turner is also a fugitive wanted in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, police said.

Turner’s passenger has not been charged, police said.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” university President Dennis Assanis and Vice President for Student Life José-Luis Riera said in a letter to the university. “We speak for the entire University in offering our condolences to the families, friends and classmates of the victims, and keep the other members of our community in our thoughts who may have witnessed the crash and its aftermath.”

“The safety of our entire community remains our top priority, and we will continue to work with our partners in city and state government to address safety concerns around and on the UD campus,” they added.

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PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley

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PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Crews and customers across the Delaware Valley are gearing up for the region’s first accumulating snowfall of the season, expected late Saturday into Sunday morning.

PennDOT says it has more than 100,000 tons of salt ready and plans to deploy over 400 trucks across the region for this event.

Road crews began brining operations Friday, which will continue through the weekend with plowing on Sunday.

READ MORE | Accuweather Alert: Light snow to blanket the region Saturday night into Sunday morning

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“Maybe 1 to 3, maybe a little bit more depending on how the storm tracks,” said Brad Rudolph of PennDOT.

He added that timing is key with the snow beginning to fall on Saturday night, while many may be out and about, and with thousands expected to travel to Lincoln Financial Field Sunday for the Eagles game against the Raiders.

Preps underway for first snow of the season in Delaware Valley

“People are going to travel, they’re going to need to take it slow. We’re going to push back snow from travel lanes, we’ll make the roads passable. They may not be completely clear of snow and ice, something to consider,” Rudolph said. “We expect this storm to push out relatively early Sunday, well before that Eagles game, but we still might have some cleaning up to do. We’ll be working long after this snow is done.”

At Stanley’s Hardware in Roxborough, workers spent Friday unpacking boxes and moving thousands of pounds of salt and other supplies to fill commercial and individual orders.

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“Our aisle is filled right now. We have tons of skids of rock salt, ice melter, shovels,” said Joe Jaconski of Stanley’s Hardware.

Customers were already stocking up.

“We have food, we have shovels, just had to get some salt just to make sure we’re keeping the sidewalks nice and safe for everyone,” said Matt Skomsky of Roxborough.

Customers were steady at Stanley’s Friday, and business is expected to pick up through the weekend, but managers say don’t wait to get ready.

“I recommend just being ahead of it. Try to beat the storm because when the storm comes, it gets very busy in here-the lines wrapped around,” Jaconski said.

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PennDOT urges drivers to keep their distance from plow trucks and check the forecast before heading out.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising

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Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising


Ellicott Development has expanded it local property portfolio. Ellicott’s 4628 Group Inc. purchased 695 Delaware Avenue on Wednesday for $1.025 million. Fred Kaplan Living Trust was the seller. The 8,454 sq.ft., three-story barn-like structure with mansard roofed addition is occupied by media production and marketing firm Crosswater Digital Media. It was the home of WKBW radio for a number of years. The property totals 0.4 acres in size with a large parking lot fronting Delaware Avenue.

The property is bookended by the Westbrook Apartments and Wilcox House apartment buildings, both ten-story structures. It sits across the street from 700 Delaware, the former Computer Task Group Building Ellicott purchased in 2018 and is now occupied by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.



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Man, 77, dies after collision with teen driver near Hartly, police say

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Man, 77, dies after collision with teen driver near Hartly, police say


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A 77-year-old man died following a two-car crash near Hartly on the morning of Dec. 10, Delaware State Police said.

The man, from the Dover area, has not been identified by police pending family notification.

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According to police reports, the man was driving a Honda Accord east on Judith Road approaching Hartly Road about 9 a.m., as an 18-year-old woman was driving a Ford Focus south on Hartly Road approaching Judith Road.

Police reported that a preliminary investigation shows the Honda moved from the stop sign into the Ford’s path, causing a collision.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, from Hartly, was treated at the scene. Police said she refused to be taken to a hospital.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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