University of Delaware student dead, at least 7 people injured in crash involving speeding U-Haul van

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

The driver of a U-Haul van that struck several pedestrians near the University of Delaware, leaving one student dead, has been charged with second-degree murder.

Gordon Turner, 22, of New Castle, was released to police custody after being evaluated at the hospital following the crash on Tuesday afternoon.

A passenger in the van was detained by Newark police, but no charges against that person have been filed so far.

Police also said Wednesday that the student killed is a 24-year-old graduate student.

Her name is not being released pending family notification.

Another 24-year-old graduate student was also struck, police say. That student is hospitalized in stable condition.

The crash happened Tuesday at Main and Haines streets in Newark.

Before the deadly crash, Newark police say the U-Haul was discovered on the 200 block of East Main Street. The van was supposed to be returned to a rental facility on March 18.

At 4:34 p.m., police say Turner and a passenger returned to the vehicle. As officers moved in, Turner allegedly drove over a curb and hit a police vehicle, then sped away onto East Main Street.

The Newark Police Department said officers did not pursue the van, and all officers remained in the shopping center.

Turner allegedly continued speeding down East Main Street when police say he lost control and hit the two graduate students.

Videos obtained by Action News shows the van speeding down the street.

The van then hit several parked cars, including one vehicle with four people inside and another vehicle with one person inside.

The crashes caused a chain reaction in which a third pedestrian was injured after being hit by a vehicle that had been pushed by the impact of the crash.

“This is a terrible tragedy for everyone in our UD community. We speak for the entire University in offering our condolences to the families, friends and classmates of the victims, and keep the other members of our community in our thoughts who may have witnessed the crash and its aftermath,” the university said in a statement.

After he was arrested, Newark police say they learned Turner is a fugitive wanted by police agencies in the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Police also say a handgun was found inside the U-Haul van. Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues, police said.

According to the affidavit, designer marijuana was found at the scene.

Turner is being held behind bars on $305,500 cash bond.

The full list of charges against Turner include:

• Murder Second Degree – Death Caused During Commission of a Felony
• Murder Second Degree – Reckless Conduct Showing Indifference to Human Life
• Assault First Degree – Conduct Creating Risk of Death or Serious Injury
• Disregarding a Police Officer’s Signal
• Possession/Consumption of Marijuana in Excess of Personal Use Quantity

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Jon Lee at (302) 366-7100 ext. 3462 or jlee@newark.de.us. Anonymous tips may be submitted through the Newark Police Department’s tips page, where reward information may also be available.

Newark police are also asking for the public to send them any video of the incident. Video files can be uploaded through this page on the police department’s website.

Students and passersby stopped to place flowers and messages at a growing memorial at the scene of the crash.

This is the second time this school year that a University of Delaware student was killed by a fleeing driver.

Back in August, 18-year-old freshman Noelia Gomez was struck by a motorcycle while in the crosswalk on West Main Street near North College Avenue.

She died on the day she started classes.