A multi-vehicle crash near Georgetown on Saturday evening killed four people, two of whom remained unidentified Monday, as fire devastated one of the vehicles involved in the accident.
According to the Delaware State Police, about 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, an accident involving five vehicles occurred on State Route 9 at Route 30. Police said a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am (operated by Apolinar Gutierrez-Santico, 38, of Laurel) was stopped at the red light on eastbound State Route 9 at State Route 30. A 2001 Chrysler Seibring (operated by Rolanda Ayers, 29, of Lewes) was stopped behind the Pontiac.
A 1995 Chevrolet Suburban (operated by Noe Gonzalo Mendez-Perez, 30, of Georgetown) approached the intersection as the light turned green and failed to slow down for stopped traffic. The Suburban struck the rear of the Seibring as it began to pull away from the light. The Seibring was forced eastbound and struck the rear of the Grand Am. The Seibring continued southwest and went off the roadway – rolling over several times before it came to a stop. Ayers, the Seibring’s driver, died as a result of the crash.
A 1996 GMC pickup (operated by William Low, 30, of Georgetown) and a Dodge Stratus (operated by Terrance Palmer, 21, of Georgetown) were traveling westbound on State Route 9 at the time of the initial crash.
Police said that, after the initial impact, the Suburban continued forward, crossed the center of the road and into the westbound lanes, where it then struck the pickup head on. The Suburban then rolled over and caught fire, killing its three occupants, who were burned beyond recognition. Police later identified the deceased driver of the Suburban as Mendez-Perez. The remaining victims had yet to be positively identified as of late Monday.
The final impact of the accident involved the Grand Am and the Stratus.
According to police, Gutierrez-Santico, the operator of the Grand Am fled the scene after the crash. Gutierrez-Santico surrendered to police at Troop 7 on Monday at 9 a.m. He was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Driving Without a License, and Failure to Have Insurance Identification in Possession. He was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace 2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $1,100 cash bail.
Police said alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash, at least on the parts of Low, the driver of the pickup, and Palmer, the driver of the Stratus. Low was also not wearing his seatbelt. They said the investigation into the crash was continuing early this week.
The roadway was closed for four hours.