Mother and daughter killed, driver charged after 3-vehicle crash in Delaware
NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) -- A driver who police say ran a red light and killed a mother and daughter is now charged with two counts of murder and other crimes.
Delaware State Police said DeJuan Robinson, of Wilmington, Delaware, fled a traffic stop and then crashed late Wednesday night in New Castle, Delaware.
A mother and daughter were killed and six more people were injured in the crash. It happened around 11:20 p.m. at the intersection of Christiana Road and Airport Road.
Police and a family member identified the two killed as Karisma Stevens and her daughter Zamiyah.
The three-vehicle crash happened as Stevens' was behind the wheel of her 2008 Dodge Caravan. There were six people inside: Stevens and five of her children.
The van was stopped for a red light at the intersection in the left turn lane. Once the light for a left turn lane changed to green, the van began to make a left turn from Christiana Road onto Airport Road.
As the van entered the intersection, police said Robinson's oncoming 2022 Kia K5 sped down Christiana Road went through a red light at the intersection and hit the van.
Video from a nearby gas station showed the moment of impact and the van rolling several times before coming to rest on the road.
The Kia deflected across the cement median after the initial impact and struck a 2020 Hyundai Tuscon SUV.
"I heard a loud boom. It sounded like a tractor-trailer hit something, but I didn't think nothing of it," William Hopkins said. "I knew it was an accident."
"That's how people drive down this road. They fly, they fly," Zazra Akuji said.
Police said a Delaware State Police trooper tried to pull over the Kia driver around 11:08 p.m., minutes before the crash occurred - but the driver fled the scene.
"The trooper attempted to follow, but lost sight of the vehicle within seconds," a Delaware State Police spokesperson said in an email. "The trooper then pulled into a parking lot and remained stationary. Unfortunately, at 11:20 p.m., the vehicle was involved in a fatal crash. The vehicle was not being actively pursued at the time of the fatal crash."
"They speed up and down there all the time, people running red lights," Hopkins said. "It's a dangerous intersection all up and down 273. It's sad, to see another fatality like that, someone killed because someone was speeding."
Stevens, from New Castle, Delaware, was driving the Dodge with five of her children inside. She was killed along with her 10-year-old daughter, Zamiyah, according to police. The four other children were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Stevens' brother said she was working for DoorDash when the crash happened, and trying to make some extra money. She also had just bought the Dodge Caravan she was driving.
The Kia driver, a 26-year-old man from Wilmington, was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The Hyundai driver, a 43-year-old woman from Bear, Delaware, also had serious injuries.
Yolanda Urena is Karisma Elivo-Stevens' mother and grandmother of Zamiyah Elivo. She said her emotions have been overwhelming in the wake of the tragedy.
"I could scream, cry, go in a daze and just think about my granddaughter and my daughter," Urena said.
Delaware State Police Corporal Amina Ali said the man arrested had fled a traffic stop 11 minutes before the crash.
"Troopers lost sight of him very quickly after he fled," Corporal Ali said. "And at no point were troopers actively pursuing the Kia."
Police did not release the names of the victims as relatives were still being notified.
Road crews worked quickly to clear debris from the roadway ahead of rush hour. The intersection was closed for about six hours.
As the investigation continues, Stevens' brother said he wants his sister to be remembered as very kind, giving, respectful and having a strong Christian faith.
