Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

State Police Investigating Road Rage Incident on State Route 1

Date Posted: Tuesday, June 18th, 2024

News Release

Edited June 20, 2024|12:22 p.m.

Delaware State Police are investigating a road rage incident that occurred Saturday night in the Smyrna area.

On June 15, 2024, at approximately 10:21 p.m., a 30-year-old woman from Chester, Pennsylvania, was traveling northbound on State Route 1 (Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway) in the right lane with her 2-year-old child in the rear passenger seat. A white SUV began drifting into her lane. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the victim honked her horn and continued driving. The unknown driver of the SUV responded aggressively by tailgating her, paralleling her vehicle, flashing high beams, and shouting obscenities from the window.

As the vehicles continued northbound, the suspect briefly pulled onto the right shoulder, allowing the victim to pass. The suspect then re-entered the right lane and fired shots at her vehicle before fleeing the scene near Exit 119. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, but several bullets hit the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle is described as a white SUV, possibly a GMC Yukon.

Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit continues its investigation and urges anyone who may have witnessed or has relevant information regarding this incident to contact Detective D. Patterson at (302) 365-8404. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.