State police arrested Tory R. Hess Wednesday, July 22, whom they say caused a crash that claimed the life of one man, seriously injured two other people and caused minor injuries to his passenger and himself.  Preliminary findings suggest Hess was under the influence of medication and alcohol at the time of the crash.

Sgt. Walley Newton, state police spokesman, said Hess, 37, of Viola, De., was operating a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette southbound on Route 1 near the Cave Neck Road intersection at approximately 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 22.  “Witnesses reported that the Corvette was passing on the shoulder and traveling at an extremely high rate of speed,” said Newton.  “As the Corvette was changing lanes multiple times, it struck the rear of a 2008 Toyota Hybrid minivan that was southbound in the right lane.”

He said the collision forced the minivan off the road, into a ditch and overturned multiple times.  The front-seat passenger - Rodney J. Long, 64, of Womelsdorf, Pa. - was ejected from the vehicle.  He was not wearing a seat belt and was declared dead at the scene.  His wife – K. Eileen Long, 60 – had been seated in the rear seat of the minivan.  She was not wearing a seat belt either, and she sustained serious injuries.  She was flown to Christiana Hospital to be treated for a fractured spine, hip and legs.  The driver of the minivan - Virginia R. Higgins, 64, of Milton - was wearing her seat belt.  She was flown to Christiana Hospital, where she was treated for contusions and lacerations.

Hess, who was wearing his seat belt, was taken to Beebe Medical Center and treated for minor injuries.  His front-seat passenger - Diana C. Sanchez, 38, of Frankford was also wearing a seat belt.  She was also treated at Beebe for minor injuries.

Newton said a Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control officer was the first to arrive at the scene.  Hess allegedly tried to club the officer with a paint-roller handle.

Hess was charged with manslaughter, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, DUI, aggressive driving, driving while suspended and menacing.  He was remanded to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $92,000 bail, pending further court action.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing its investigation.

CHARGES FROM FATAL CRASH

Tory Hess, 37, of Viola, was charged with manslaughter, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, DUI, aggressive driving, driving while suspended and menacing. He was remanded to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $92,000 bail, pending further court action.