MARSHALLTON, DELAWARE (12/16/2017) A 30-year-old Wilmington driver was fatally wounded when a Delaware State Police trooper fired his gun while being dragged by the vehicle, authorities said.
The shooting was reported at 4:24 p.m. Friday in the area of Farrand Drive and Hammond Place as the trooper was conducting a traffic stop, police said.
The 37-year-old trooper suffered injuries and was treated at a hospital and released.
The driver, later identified as Adam Radcliffe, died at a hospital, police said.
Police provided this account of the incident:
“The incident occurred on Friday, December 15, 2017 at approximately 4:24 p.m. as a trooper on patrol observed a burgundy Honda strike a pole and was driving erratically on Boxwood Road near Centerville Road, Wilmington. The suspect vehicle fled from the crash scene and the trooper followed the suspect vehicle which was later seen in the Kirkwood Plaza Shopping Center off of Kirkwood Highway, located at 4365 Kirkwood Highway.
“As the trooper proceeded to make contact with the driver, the suspect vehicle sped off with the trooper attached to the passenger side door dragging him. The vehicle accelerated down the access road for Kirkwood Plaza before turning left onto Farrand Drive. The Trooper fired his divisionally issued weapon striking the suspect. The suspect vehicle sped off down Farrand Drive into the neighborhood.
“Troopers began canvassing the area for the suspect and located the burgundy Honda Civic off of Hammond Place at the end of Farrand Drive where it drove through a fence into a small creek. Troopers removed the sole occupant from the vehicle and performed CPR. Emergency Medical Personnel arrived on scene and transported the subject to the Christiana Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.”
The trooper has been with the force for 11 years and is assigned to Troop 6 patrol in Prices Corner. The trooper’s name has not been released.
The trooper was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police homicide unit’s investigation.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective M. Csapo at 302-741-2729.
Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.