Serious Motor Vehicle Accident on Bay Road 3-2-2018

Incident/Complaint#:  50-18-7010

Date/Time:   Thursday, March 1,. 2018 at 7:29PM

Location: Bay Road and Blue Hen Boulevard (northbound side), Dover, DE

Officer Releasing Information:   M/Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Public Information Officer

Narrative:

The Dover Police Department is investigating a serious motor vehicle accident that occurred on Thursday evening.  The incident occurred at 7:29PM, when a 35-year-old female operating a blue Toyota Camry was stopped behind a blue Ford F-150 truck at a red light on Bay Road at the Blue Hen Blvd. intersection.  The female driver’s 10-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle.  While stopped, a red Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by 39-year-old Oliver Barnes was approaching the victims vehicle at a high rate of speed.  Barnes struck the rear of the victims vehicle, pushing it around the Ford F-150 that was stopped in front of it, and into the southbound turn lane.  Barnes’ vehicle then struck the rear of the Ford F-150 (no injuries).  The 10-year-old child suffered serious head trauma and was flown to A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital following emergency surgery at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital and is in critical condition.  The mother was treated at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for a head injury and was later released.  

The suspect (Oliver Barnes) was admitted to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital with a spinal injury.  Barnes was intoxicated at the time of the accident and speed is also a factor in the crash.

Barnes was arraigned at the hospital and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction on $5,150 cash bond on the following charges:
-DUI
-Vehicular Assault 1st Degree
-Vehicular Assault 2nd Degree
-Driving While Suspended (license)
-Reckless Driving