AUBREY, TEXAS — A peaceful North Texas community has been shaken to its core following the tragic and sudden deaths of a TX couple.
NOTE: This post has been edited, as the previous publication was wrong written.
This is a developing story. Details will be updated as they come in.
READ MORE: Marina Vasconcelos Obituary Pennsylvania New Castle Man Arrested After Fatal Crash in Newark; One Dead, Another Critically Injured.
Newark, Del. (April 29, 2025) — A high-speed crash involving a stolen U-Haul van left one pedestrian dead and another seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in Newark, prompting the arrest of a 22-year-old New Castle man.
According to the Newark Police Department, the incident began around 3:49 p.m. when officers located an unoccupied U-Haul van in a shopping center on the 200 block of East Main Street. The vehicle had been reported as an “unauthorized use” and was overdue for return since March 18.
At approximately 4:34 p.m., Gordon Turner and an unidentified passenger returned to the vehicle. As officers approached to make an arrest, Turner jumped into the driver’s seat and fled the scene, striking a police vehicle and driving over a curb to escape onto East Main Street at high speed.
Police say they did not pursue Turner as he sped westbound. Moments later, near Haines Street, Turner lost control of the van and struck two pedestrians walking on the north side of the street. The van then continued on, colliding with multiple parked vehicles — one of which contained four occupants — before finally coming to a stop near Center Street in front of the Newark Post Office.
The force of the crash triggered a chain reaction, causing a parked vehicle to strike a third pedestrian.
Emergency crews from Newark Police, Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Company, University of Delaware Emergency Care Unit, Christiana Fire Company, and New Castle County Paramedics rushed to the scene following a flood of 911 calls.
One of the pedestrians, a 24-year-old graduate student at the University of Delaware, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding her identity pending family notification. A second pedestrian, also a 24-year-old graduate student, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. She remains in stable condition.
Turner was also hospitalized briefly before being taken into police custody. The passenger, who has not been charged at this time, was detained and brought to Newark Police Headquarters for questioning.
East Main Street remained closed for roughly five hours while investigators from the Newark Police Department’s Traffic Unit processed the scene, with assistance from University of Delaware Police, Fire Police, and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).
Charges against Turner are expected to be announced as the investigation continues. Newark Police are urging any witnesses or individuals with information to come forward.