Fatal Vehicle Crash Following High Speed Chase in Blades
BLADES, Del. – Delaware State Police (DSP) are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred Saturday night in Blades after a suspect fled from an attempted traffic stop and caused a three-vehicle crash.
On Sept. 6, at approximately 11:00 p.m., a DSP trooper attempted to stop a Chevrolet Silverado on Seaford Road for a registration violation. The vehicle was displaying a temporary tag that had expired in February, and had been flagged as not valid for operation on public roads. The driver failed to stop and sped north at a high rate of speed, entering town limits of Blades. Less than a minute after the pursuit began, the fleeing Silverado crossed into oncoming traffic on Market Street and crashed.
The preliminary investigation by DSP revealed that the Silverado struck a Ford F-150 head-on in the southbound left turn lane of Market Street. The impact pushed the F-150 backward, causing its rear end to hit the front bumper of a Chevrolet Camaro, which had been traveling south behind the F-150.
The driver of the fleeing Chevrolet Silverado, identified as 58-year-old Purnell Collins of Seaford, Delaware, was not properly restrained and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Ford F-150, a 34-year-old man from Laurel, Delaware, was wearing a seatbelt and was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was later released.
The roadway was partially shut down for approximately five hours while members of the DSP Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated and cleared the roadway.
This incident remains under investigation. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Master Corporal K. Argo at (302) 703-3264. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
