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Man fleeing from police beats and kills UD newcomer and injures other people: Police

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A motorcyclist who fled a traffic stop at the University of Delaware late Tuesday night, according to Newark police, is suspected of hitting and killing a UD freshman student and injuring four others.

The freshman student was an 18-year-old woman from New Jersey. Her name is not being released by police until her family has been notified. UD's president and vice president issued a statement Wednesday afternoon urging schools to support one another.

“Last night, a University of Delaware freshman died in a traffic accident near campus that was witnessed by many of her friends and fellow students,” began the statement from President Dennis Assanis and Vice President José-Luis Riera. “Incidents such as this are tragic beyond belief. We cannot express enough how deeply sorry we are to the family, friends and the entire community as we are all deeply shocked by the sudden loss of one of our loved ones. Our hearts are very heavy today.”

The statement goes on to say that the school needs to come together and support one another, “with special kindness and empathy.” Support and help is available to students who need it, the statement says.

What happened?

The events unfolded just before midnight Tuesday when a UD police officer attempted to stop a motorcyclist for a traffic violation, Newark police said. The attempted stop occurred on East Main Street, just west of South Chapel Street.

The motorcyclist, whose identity police have not yet determined, “ignored the officer's hazard lights and fled at high speed.” They continued west on East Main Street.

“The University of Delaware police officer did not pursue the motorcycle and turned off his hazard lights as the motorcycle fled at a high rate of speed,” a press release said.

As the motorcyclist sped away, he struck the 18-year-old woman who was crossing West Main Street, west of North College Avenue. The driver was ejected as the motorcycle continued to drive.

The vehicle crashed into four other pedestrians and a light pole.

Passers-by tried to save the young woman on the zebra crossing, but they were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The other four pedestrians suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Only one was taken to hospital.

The motorcyclist was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said charges have not yet been brought against him “at this time,” but the investigation is ongoing.

Classes at UD began on Tuesday.

The accident occurred one week after another fatal accident with similar circumstances

The accident on Tuesday evening occurred about a week after a similar accident in which a mother and her daughter were killed. In that accident, too, the driver fled from a traffic checkpoint.

DeJuan Robinson, 26, is in jail on nearly $1 million bail for the car crash that occurred near New Castle on August 21.

STORY: Man charged with murder after car crash near New Castle that left mother and daughter dead and others injured

He was charged with two counts of murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, disobeying a police officer and failure to stop at a traffic light. The accident occurred on a Wednesday at around 11:20 p.m.

According to police, a Delaware State Police trooper attempted to stop Robinson in the 100 block of Route 13 (South Dupont Highway) just over 10 minutes before the accident. He fled in his Kia.

The officer lost sight of Robinson shortly thereafter, police said. The agency stated that “at no time was the Kia actively pursued by law enforcement.”

However, Robinson sped toward Christiana Road and Airport Road, where 29-year-old Karisma Elivo-Stevens was trying to make a left turn in a car with 10-year-old Zamiyah Elivo and five other children, police said. They had a green light while Robinson's light was red.

Robinson's car struck Elivo-Stevens', causing it to spin and roll over. His car then crossed a concrete median and struck a Hyundai that was turning onto Christiana Road.

Elivo-Stevens and her 10-year-old daughter died at the scene, while the other children, ages 8, 5, 3 and 1, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old woman, suffered “serious” injuries and was taken to hospital, police said.

The reason for Robinson's escape is unknown, but court records indicate that he has a long criminal past.

Have a story tip or idea? Send it to Isabel Hughes at [email protected]. For all the latest news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_

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