Mother and daughter killed, 6 injured in Delaware crash involving 3 vehicles
NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) -- A mother and daughter were killed and six more people were injured when a speeding driver ran a red light and caused a crash late Wednesday night in New Castle, Delaware State Police said.
A family member identified the mother and daughter killed as his sister, Karisma Stevens, and his niece, Zamiyah.
The crash involved three vehicles — a minivan, a car, and an SUV — and happened around 11:20 p.m. at the busy intersection of Airport and Christiana roads. Nearby roads and the intersection were closed overnight after the crash but reopened after 6 a.m. Thursday.
Police said a 2008 Dodge Caravan with six people inside was stopped at a red light at the intersection. 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, an oncoming 2022 Kia K5 speeding 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.
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.
