Police are searching for a person who crashed a vehicle into a church in Newark, Delaware early Friday morning.
According to the Newark Police Department, around 2:06 a.m., a vehicle struck the St. John AM Church at the corner of New London Road and Hillside Road.
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Police said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on West Cleveland Ave. As the vehicle continued westbound through the intersection of West Cleveland Avenue/Hillside Road and New London Road, the vehicle left the roadway and flew into the church.
The driver fled from the scene before officers arrived and there is currently no description of the person, police said.
Police said they were able to contact the church's staff and the City of Newark Building Department, and representatives from both organizations responded to the scene.
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NBC10 spoke with Pastor Blaine Hackett, who said that St. John AM Church is the first black church in Newark. Only about 15 regular parishioners show up each week, but many more take part online.
Hackett also noted that the church had been hit before by another vehicle. Last time, they set up barriers, but this time, a car still went through them.
According to Hackett, Sunday service will still be held, but in another part of the church that is not impacted.
Anyone with information about this incident, including the driver of the vehicle, is asked to contact Sgt. T. Maiura at (302) 366-7100 x. 3423 or tmaiura@newark.de.us.
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