Police Identify U-Haul Driver Linked to Delaware Student’s Tragic Death and Injuries of Eight Others

Officials have identified the driver involved in a tragic incident that led to the death of a University of Delaware student and injured eight others in Newark, Delaware. The driver, 22-year-old Gordon Turner from New Castle, faces several serious charges, including murder and reckless conduct.

The incident unfolded on April 29, 2025, when Newark Police found a U-Haul truck that had been reported stolen. It was parked at a shopping center on East Main Street. Around 4:34 p.m., Turner and a passenger returned to the vehicle, prompting police to move in. As they attempted to arrest Turner, he fled the scene, driving over a curb and crashing into a police vehicle.

Police decided not to pursue him. Instead, Turner sped along East Main Street, but lost control and struck two pedestrians. After hitting several parked cars, the vehicle finally stopped in front of a post office. Tragically, one pedestrian, a 24-year-old graduate student, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second pedestrian, also a 24-year-old student, suffered serious injuries but is stable in the hospital.

Turner was taken to the hospital for evaluation before being placed in police custody. His passenger is not facing charges at this time. Following the incident, East Main Street was closed for about five hours, and a makeshift memorial emerged, calling attention to the need for increased safety measures for both students and the public.

This event is part of an alarming trend in Newark. Just months earlier, in August 2024, another tragic incident occurred when a motorcyclist fleeing police struck and killed a freshman student on Main Street. Police reported they did not pursue the motorcyclist in that case either.

In a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian fatalities have risen by over 20% in recent years, with a significant portion involving hit-and-run drivers. Experts stress the importance of community engagement in promoting road safety. As people gather to remember the victims, there are calls for stricter regulations and increased awareness to prevent such heartbreaking events in the future.

For more information on road safety initiatives, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

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