Police: Man flees in stolen truck while under the influence of drugs

KENT CO., Del. – A Dover man is behind bars after he led police on a chase in a stolen truck.

We’re told troopers responded to southbound Route 1 for a reported stolen vehicle located traveling on the roadway just before 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The red Dodge RAAM 1500 was reported stolen out of Dover and was traveling southbound in the area of I.G. Burton, north of Milford.

Police initiated a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop and continued fleeing. Troopers tried to deploy stop sticks in the area of Route 16 in Ellendale, but the truck swerved to avoid them and veered onto the right shoulder, hitting the rear of a 2020 Dodge work van being driven by a 43-year-old New Jersey man. After the crash, the driver of the RAM, identified as 29-year-old Demetrius Wright, got out of the right rear passenger door and was taken into custody.

It was determined through investigation that Wright was driving the stolen truck under the influence of drugs. He was taken to a nearby hospital by EMS, where he was medically cleared.

The driver of the Dodge work van had pulled to the shoulder before the crash to allow police to pass. He was taken to a nearby hospital by EMS for minor injuries. A 48-year-old New Jersey man was seated in the front right passenger seat and was also taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Wright was charged with disregarding a police officer signal, driving while suspended, reckless driving, aggressive driving, driving under the influence of drugs, two counts of speeding in excess of posted limit, and other related traffic offenses. He was held at SCI on a $2,470 secured bond.