Driver with fake registration crashes into wall while fleeing, police say
Adam DuvernayState police have charged a New Castle man with multiple offenses, including DUI, saying they chased him on Concord Pike before he crashed and his car caught fire.
A trooper spotted a white Kia Spectra with fake Pennsylvania registration traveling on Concord Pike south of Florence Avenue in Brandywine Hundred around 1:45 p.m., state police said. The trooper turned on his lights and tried to pull him over, police said.
The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Justin Eckenroad, sped up and went through the red light at Florence Avenue, proceeding onto the south shoulder of Concord Pike while still traveling north, state police said. He then ran another red light.
State police said Eckenroad turned onto Mt. Lebanon Road, got up to a high speed and failed to make a turn, which caused him to strike a stone wall head-on. State police said his car briefly caught fire and the trooper pulled Eckenroad from the burning vehicle.
Eckenroad was taken to the hospital by state police helicopter with serious injuries.
State police said they will arrest him when he's discharged from the hospital for disregarding a police officer signal, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs, failure to have insurance, fictitious registration, driving an unregistered vehicle, failure to signal, driving the wrong way, failure to stop at a red light, failure to stop at a stop sign and speeding.
Contact Adam Duvernay at (302) 319-1855 or aduvernay@delawareonline.com
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