NEWARK, DELAWARE (4/17/2015) A pursuit that began with a carjacking in Delaware this afternoon ended in Maryland with a crash involving four vehicles on U.S. 40 near Elkton. An 18-year-old man from Wilmington is in custody and facing charges.
Delaware State Police said the carjacking happened about 2:05 p.m. in the parking lot of the BJ’s Wholesale Club store in the Pencader Plaza on South Chapel Street south of Chestnut Hill Road, just outside Newark.
A 45-year-old Bear woman was seated in the driver’s seat of her 2010 Chevrolet Traverse minivan when a man knocked on her window and asked to use her cellphone. The woman agreed and got out of the minivan. The man attempted a call and then refused to return her phone and began to walk away. The woman grabbed him by the shirt, police said, and he then implied he had a gun.
Police said the man then grabbed the keys from her hand and fled in the vehicle, heading south on South Chapel Street (Route 72). The woman was not injured.
Troopers soon spotted the minivan heading south on South College Avenue (Route 896) and the pursuit began, with the minivan heading west on U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) and into Maryland. A state police helicopter as well as troopers on the ground were involved, and Maryland State Police, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office and Elkton police joined in.
After spiked strips were placed to try to halt the vehicle, the driver made a U-turn, then crossed into the westbound lanes and collided head-on with other vehicles at Maryland Route 213 in Elkton about 2:45 p.m., according to reports from the scene.
A 70-year-old woman injured in the crash was flown to Christiana Hospital. There was no immediate word on other injuries.
The driver of the minivan attempted to flee on foot but was captured by a K-9.
Delaware State Police later identified him as Joshua D. McGriff. He was taken to Union Hospital in Elkton for treatment of injuries from the crash and then released to Maryland State Police.
Delaware State Police have warrants charging McGriff with robbery, carjacking, reckless endangering and possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony. He will be formally charged after he is extradited from Maryland.
U.S. 40 westbound was closed as police investigated.