Milford man charged in multi-car crash on Route 1
A Milford man, 19, faces charges after a multi-car crash Sept. 28 on Route 1 near Wescoats Road.
Jonathan L. Tibe was driving a 2007 Dodge Charger at 9:02 a.m. attempting to flee from Delaware State Police when he sped southbound on Route 1 into the left-turn lane for Wescoats Road, said Master Cpl. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police.
Because of the Dodge’s excessive speed, Pepper said, it could not stop and collided with the rear of a 2006 Toyota Scion driven by a Millsboro man, 36, that was in the middle of the designated left-turn lane. The impact forced the Scion over a raised concrete curb separating the northbound and southbound lanes before it came to rest in the middle of the northbound lanes, Pepper said.
The Dodge continued traveling south, striking the rear of a 2020 Jeep Comanche driven by a Millsboro woman, 29. The impact with the Comanche redirected the Dodge southwest, causing it to strike the left rear of a Nissan X-Terra driven by a Millsboro man, 75. The right front of the X-Terra then hit the left rear of a Ford Escape driven by a Seaford woman, 35.
The Dodge finally came to rest in the left-turn lane against the left front of the X-Terra.
The operator of the Toyota Scion suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated and released; the operator of the Jeep Comanche sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment at the scene; the operator of the Nissan X-Terra suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated and released; the operator of the Ford Escape suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital by private vehicle, where she was treated and released.
Tibe was not properly restrained and was not injured during the collision, Pepper said. As troopers attempted to take Tibe into custody, she said, he refused to comply with commands and resisted arrest. After he was taken into custody, Pepper said, Tibe displayed signs of driving under the influence, and police conducted a DUI investigation. A search of his vehicle resulted in about .5 grams of marijuana found, she said. Tibe was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 7 where he was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, disregarding a police officer signal – a felony, felony first-degree reckless endangering, four counts second-degree vehicular assault, resisting arrest, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of marijuana and other traffic violations. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $74,000 cash bond.
The intersection of Route 1 and Wescoats Road was closed for about two hours while the on-scene investigation was conducted.
