DUI suspect crashes into parked Police vehicles on Route 141

The crashes occurred early Sunday morning. (Photo from New Castle County Police)

A Wilmington man is facing a long list of charges after crashing into two parked police vehicles early Sunday morning while allegedly driving under the influence.

According to the New Castle County Division of Police, 40-year-old Francisco Santos was arrested following the incident, which occurred around 3 a.m. on July 20 on Route 141 in Newport.

Police say a New Castle County officer had stopped to assist a Newport Police officer who was investigating a separate crash on the roadway.

The county officer parked his fully marked Tahoe behind the Newport cruiser and activated emergency lights to create a safety buffer.

A second county officer arrived shortly after and positioned another marked Tahoe with lights flashing to further secure the scene.

Moments later, authorities say Santos, driving a white GMC Yukon, slammed into the rear of one of the parked police Tahoes, triggering a chain-reaction collision that damaged both county vehicles. All three officers were outside their vehicles at the time and were not injured.

Santos was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of DUI.

He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

After his release, Santos was taken to New Castle County Police Headquarters and charged with multiple offenses, including:

• Three felony counts of first-degree reckless endangerment
• One felony count of criminal mischief (property damage over $5,000)
• Multiple misdemeanor charges, including DUI, resisting arrest, and driving with a suspended license

He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $18,700 secured bail.

Authorities say the incident underscores the dangers of impaired driving and the risks faced by officers working on active roadways.

Jarek Rutz

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@delawarelive.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.