Friday December, 9 2022 @ 16:54

Nature: Vehicle Accident w/Entrapment - ROLLOVER

Location: John J. Williams Hwy Near Gull Point Road

Address:  27427 John J Williams Hwy Millsboro, DE 19966

On Friday, December 9th, the Indian River (80) and Millsboro (83) volunteer fire companies were alerted for a vehicle accident with entrapment on John J. Williams Highway east of Warwick Road.  Additional emergency alerts included the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad, the Sussex County Paramedics, and the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit – Trooper 2.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine #80-1 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

Emergency response crew assignments included vehicle stabilization, assess of vehicle occupants, traffic control with roadway closure, and overall incident mitigation efforts.  The nature of the reported incident required additional emergency resource alerts which were cancelled when determined that they would not be needed.

It appears that a white Ford Utility Van was traveling west on John J. Williams Highway and did not successfully navigate the sharp curve at Gull Point Road, left the roadway striking a utility pole, overturned and continued through a residential front yard hitting a tree. Other passing motorists were impacted by the debris field damaging their vehicle as well.  The occupant of the van was able to self-extricate prior to arrival of emergency response units.

The Delaware State Fire Police were ordered to close and detour this segment of John J. Williams Highway for the duration of the incident.  Additional resources from the Delaware Department of Transportation and the respective utility service provider were notified to assist with the incident mitigation efforts.

The Delaware State Police are investigating.

Additional information may be viewed via the following website:

(1)  Delaware State Police Newsroom - https://dsp.delaware.gov/2022/12/11/impaired-driver-arrested-following-hit-and-run-investigation.

Impaired Driver Arrested Following Hit-and-Run Investigation

Date Posted: Sunday, December 11th, 2022

Delaware State Police arrested 53-year-old Steven Shores of Delmar, Maryland, for assault, DUI, and other traffic-related offenses following a collision investigation that occurred Friday afternoon in Millsboro.

On December 9, 2022, at approximately 4:54 p.m., troopers responded to John. J. Williams Highway and Silicato Drive for a reported hit-and-run collision. The investigation revealed a Land Rover, driven by a 69-year-old man from Lewes, was stopped for traffic in the westbound lane on John J. Williams Highway. A Ford E-150 van was traveling westbound on John J. Williams Highway behind the Land Rover and failed to stop for traffic. This caused the front of the van to collide with the rear of the Land Rover. The driver of the van, later identified as Steven Shores, exited his vehicle and confronted the other driver. Shores then threw the man onto the roadway, got back into the van, and fled the scene going westbound on John J. Williams Highway.

A short time later, the van collided with a utility pole after trying to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone on John J. Williams Highway near Gull Point Road. When troopers arrived on the scene, they observed signs that Shores was an impaired driver. He was taken into custody without any further issues. The debris from this collision caused damage to a Honda Accord and a Lexus RX.  The driver of the Land Rover was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. There were no additional injuries reported as a result of the collisions.

Shores was transported to Troop 7, where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Assault Second Degree (Felony)

• Driving Under the Influence

• Other traffic-related offenses

He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $3607 secured bond.