Delaware

Mom and daughter killed, 6 others, including 4 kids, hurt in Del. crash

A crash on Christiana and Airport roads in New Castle, Delaware, left a child and her mother dead and six others hurt, state police said

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UPDATE: Dejuan Robinson, 26, of Wilmington, Delaware, now faces murder charges in the deadly crash. Latest details here.

A mother and daughter were killed while six others, including the woman's four other children, were injured in a multi-vehicle crash in Delaware late Wednesday night.

The family identified the mother and daughter as Karisma Stevens and Zamiyah Stevens, respectively.

The crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Christiana Road in New Castle. A 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with Stevens and her five children inside was stopped at a traffic light in the eastbound lanes of Christiana Road at the intersection with Airport Road.

At the same time, a 2022 Kia K5 was speeding westbound on Christiana Road, investigators said. As the Dodge entered the intersection to turn onto Airport Road, the Kia continued westbound on Christiana, entered the intersection and failed to stop at the red traffic light, according to investigators.

The Kia then struck the right side of the Dodge, causing the Dodge to spin and roll over, police said. The impact also caused the Kia to cross a cement median and strike a 2020 Hyundai Tuscon that was about to turn right onto Christiana Road from Airport Road, according to investigators.

Surveillance video from a nearby gas station shows one of the vehicles involved in the crash skidding on the roadway and flipping over as sparks fly.

The driver of the Dodge, 29-year-old Stevens, as well as her 10-year-old daughter Zamiyah, were both killed in the crash.

Stevens’ four other children who were inside the Dodge were taken to the hospital. According to the uncle of the children, one of his nieces is in critical condition.

Both the driver of the Kia, a 26-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, and the driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old woman from Bear, Delaware, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The road was closed for about six hours before it reopened.

Stevens' brother said she had just received her associate's degree and was a loving mother to five girls. They were all riding with her at the time of the crash while she was driving for a food delivery service to make extra money for her family.

She had just finished her last drop off and was headed home when the crash took place just around the corner from their house.

“It’s sad. It’s sad to see a fatality like that, someone get killed because someone was speeding," Al Shakeel of New Castle said.

Delaware State Police continue to investigate the crash. If you have any information on the incident, please call Corporal D. McKenna at 302-365-8486. You can also send information to Delaware State Police on their Facebook page or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-333.

If you’re a victim or witness of a crime or know someone who is or if you’ve lost a loved one to a sudden death and need help, contact the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center at 1-800-VICTM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You can also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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