Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Troopers Arrest Man Following Stolen Vehicle Hit-and-Run Crash Investigation at Christiana Hospital

Date Posted: Tuesday, June 11th, 2024

News Release

Delaware State Police arrested 36-year-old Larry Kelley of Newport, Delaware, for felony assault and additional offenses stemming from a stolen vehicle hit-and-run crash investigation that occurred Saturday morning at Christiana Hospital in Newark.

On June 8, 2024, at approximately 8:12 a.m., troopers responded to Christiana Hospital located at 4755 Ogletown Stanton Road, Newark, for a report of a male patient that fled from the hospital in a stolen vehicle following a hit-and-run crash. Upon arriving, troopers learned the suspect, identified as Larry Kelley, was a patient in the Christiana Hospital Emergency Department, when he became increasingly aggressive, and ran out of the hospital. After running out of the hospital, Kelley evaded being taken into custody by multiple ChristianaCare Constables as he entered an unoccupied and unsecured SUV idling in front of the Emergency Department’s entrance. Kelley then struck a constable with the stolen SUV and drove over him as he fled out of the parking lot towards Churchmans Road. The constable was treated at the hospital for serious injuries.

A short time later, troopers found the stolen SUV abandoned in the area of East Newport Pike and Forest Drive, and learned Kelley had fled on foot from the SUV. Troopers, with the assistance of officers from the Newport Police Department, searched the area and found Kelley attempting to enter a house on Maple Hill Road. He was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

A computer inquiry was conducted and revealed Kelley does not have a valid driver license. After Kelley was medically cleared from the hospital, he was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on an $11,500 cash bond.