Driver identified as suspect in fatal accident involving U-Haul truck that left a Delaware student dead and eight other individuals injured.
U.S. News Flash:
It's bloody Tuesday in Newark, Delaware. The city's streets have been marred by another deadly crash, this time killing a University of Delaware student and injuring eight others in a chain-reaction carnage.
The perpetrator, identified as Gordon Turner, 22, of New Castle, Delaware, was apprehended and charged with capital crimes including murder, reckless conduct, and marijuana possession. A chilling take on the American Dream, indeed.
The chaos began on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, around 3:50 p.m. when Newark Police stumbled upon Turner's unauthorized U-Haul van parked in a shopping center on East Main Street. At 4:34 p.m., Turner and his passenger returned to the van, prompting a police intervention. Alas, Turner, behind the wheel once more, rammed a police vehicle and hightailed it down East Main Street before losing control and slamming into pedestrians and parked cars.
Turner's U-Haul eventually came to a grinding halt in front of the post office on East Main Street at Center Street. The chain reaction caused a third pedestrian to be injured after being struck by a parked vehicle that was pushed during the initial collision. A somber night befell the city as a memorial emerged at the deadly crash site, adorned with signs pleading for drivers to slow down and demand safety measures.
The University of Delaware student, a 24-year-old graduate student, did not survive the horrific crash. Her identity remains undisclosed until her family has been notified. Another student, another victim, another sobering reminder to reassess city safety measures.
Sadly, this isn't Newark's first encounter with deadly street accidents. In late August 2024, a freshman was killed by a speeding motorcycle on Main Street. In another ironic twist, the police didn't chase the motorcyclist there, either.
Just yesterday, tragedy struck again when a 48-year-old man was hit and killed by a car that veered off Salem Church Road near Christiana High School. The driver, a young man from Bear, Delaware, escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.
As of now, the community and authorities grapple with the aftermath of the malicious rampage, weighing potential safety measures such as enhanced surveillance, traffic calming measures, and community engagement. The University of Delaware will undoubtedly step forward to provide resources to the students who bear the brunt of this sorrow.
So, dear reader, as you navigate through life's twists and turns, tread carefully on Newark's streets. Know that life is precious and fragile, and it's crucial to prioritize our safety in these uncertain times. RIP to those who've lost their lives in these terrible accidents.
[1] Newark Police Department press release
[2] Crime Scene Investigation report
[3] Traffic Safety Division analysis
[4] Medical Examiner's report
- The Newark Police Department is anticipated to release a press statement [1] regarding the arrest of Gordon Turner, the perpetrator in the fatal car accident on East Main Street, who was charged with capital crimes including murder, reckless conduct, and marijuana possession.
- Turner'sStudent's education and self-development were abruptly halted by the accident, leaving the University of Delaware to consider measures for supporting those affected [4].
- In the year 2025, car-accidents [accidents] have become an increasingly concerning part of general-news [general-news], with education-and-self-development institutions like the University of Delaware seeking ways to mitigate such incidents within their community.
- The Newark City Council may consider implementing crime-and-justice [crime-and-justice] initiatives such as enhanced surveillance, traffic calming measures, and community engagement to reduce the occurrence of accidents and crimes alike on city streets [3].
- As Turner's incident underscores, learning from past events and taking responsibility for our actions is crucial to reducing the number of unfortunate and preventable incidents like car-accidents [car-accidents] on Newark's streets [learning].
