Fugitive charged with murder for U-Haul crash that killed UDel student, injured 7 others
Fugitive facing multiple charges after crash kills UDel student, injures 7 others
As University of Delaware students are trying to process the death of a student and serious injuries to seven others, the fugitive driver of the crash is facing numerous charges including murder in the second degree.
NEWARK, Del. - A 22-year-old man wanted in three other states is now in police custody for a crash that claimed the life of a University of Delaware student and left seven others injured near campus Tuesday evening.
What we know:
Gordon Turner is charged with murder, assault, and related offenses after police say he lost control of a stolen U-Haul van while evading arrest, striking several pedestrians and vehicles.
An investigation revealed that Turner was a fugitive already wanted by police in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
The backstory:
A U-Haul van, which was due for return last month, was found parked in a shopping center on the 200 block of East Main Street around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
When police attempted to arrest Turner and a passenger, they evaded arrest by driving over a curb and hitting a police vehicle before speeding off.
Police say they did not initiate a pursuit, but the vehicle continued speeding, then lost control, striking two pedestrians.
Several parked vehicles were also struck, one with four people inside, and another with one person inside.
A chain reaction caused one of the parked vehicles to strike a third pedestrian.
One of the pedestrians, a 24-year-old University of Delaware graduate student, later identified as Marina Vasconcelos, of Northeast, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second pedestrian, also a 24-year-old University of Delaware graduate student, sustained serious injuries, but is said to be in stable condition.
Turner was released into police custody after being evaluated at a local hospital.
No charges have been filed against the passenger, who was detained by Newark police.
A handgun was also discovered after the U-Haul van was searched by police.
What they're saying:
During a news conference Wednesday, the Newark police chief says the department has a strict pursuit policy and officers did not pursue the U-Haul truck.
Chief Mark Farrall explained, "Is the danger to the public greater if we don’t pursue than if we do pursue? So, that plays into the factor of whether or not we pursue somebody."
University of Delaware students are processing the death of the 24-year-old grad student and the others injured.
Student Nikki Passick stated, "Another girl had passed away only a few months ago, at the start of the school year and it’s really sad we’re ending this exact same way."
"No words, really, to express just how sad and disappointing it is. I drive here and it’s like insane. People just drive so fast," Molly Caplan commented.
"Having to go around and call people. Called my mom because I know she’s at the university and my sister and my boyfriend and my friends and my roommate just to see if they’re not dead on the side of the road was like terrible and it happens way too much," student Anna Holcroft said.
"Anything to calm the traffic and anything to center pedestrian safety over vehicle traffic," student PJ White stated.
The mayor of Newark says in addition to the latest fatality, there have been other tragic incidents involving drivers evading police that needs to be addressed.
Mayor of Newark, Travis McDermott, remarked, "We need a multi-pronged approach that focused both on improving road and pedestrian safety and ensuring those who choose to flee from law enforcement face serious consequences for their reckless actions."
What's next:
Police say additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. They are asking anyone with footage of the crash to contact them.
Turner was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after being issued a $305,505 cash bond.
What you can do:
Anyone with video evidence of the deadly crash and the U-Haul truck involved is urged to upload that video to a page on the Newark Police Department's website, here.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by the Newark Police Department.