Police: Fleeing DUI suspect crashes into police car, injuring officer and civilian

SMYRNA, Del. – A Smyrna man is facing his 5th DUI and numerous other charges after he hit a police car while fleeing Wednesday night.

At around 10:40 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a red pickup that was failing to maintain its lane of travel and driving recklessly on Route 13 in the area of Cory Lane. The officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to stop and fled northbound on Route 13. In the area of Route 13 and Mill Street, the driver reportedly sideswiped a vehicle and continued driving.

A separate Smyrna Police Officer was pulled over on the shoulder of Route 13 in the area of Mt. Vernon Street with an unrelated DUI suspect detained in the back of their vehicle. The pickup truck drifted off the roadway and hit the parked SPD car, pushing the car off the shoulder and into a year. The pickup then came to a rest in the median of Route 13.

The driver of the pickup, identified as 62-year-old Paul Reed, had to be extricated from the truck. The Smyrna Police Officer in the vehicle that was hit was trapped and had to be removed with help from responders. The detainee was able to exit the damaged vehicle. Reed, the officer, and detainee were all taken to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.

On release from the hospital, Reed will be charged with 5th offense DUI, disregarding a police officer signal, possession of ammunition by a person prohibited, three counts of second degree reckless endangerment, two counts of second degree vehicular assault, and 28 other traffic offenses.