A freshman student who had just finished her first day of classes at the University of Delaware was struck and killed by a speeding motorcyclist who fled a traffic stop, investigators said.
The student was identified as 18-year-old Noelia Gomez, of Clark, New Jersey, officials revealed on Thursday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday around 11:50 p.m. near the University of Delaware's campus in Newark, Delaware. A University of Delaware police officer was trying to stop a motorcycle rider who committed traffic offenses on East Main and South Chapel streets, according to investigators.
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The motorcyclist allegedly ignored the officer’s emergency lights and sped westbound on East Main Street. The officer didn’t engage in the pursuit and turned off his emergency lights, officials said.
As the motorcyclist continued speeding, the vehicle struck the University of Delaware Freshman who was walking in a crosswalk on West Main Street, just west of North College Avenue, police said. The motorcyclist also struck four other pedestrians on the sidewalk and a light pole, according to investigators.
Bystanders tried to save Gomez but were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis revealed that many of her friends and classmates witnessed the crash.
“We cannot express enough how sorry we are for the family, friends, and greater community as we are all so deeply shaken by the sudden loss of one of our own,” Assanis wrote. “Our hearts are very heavy today.”
Assanis’ message also included resources for students to help them through the tragedy.
Classes for the new semester had just started at the school on Tuesday, hours before the deadly crash.
"It's sickening because it's just a freshman," University of Delaware student Jason Blottner said. "I know that she came here to start pursuing her dreams, whatever her career is, and it just got taken from her."
Three of the pedestrians who were struck by the motorcycle suffered minor injuries and refused to be taken to the hospital, police said. A fourth pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The motorcycle rider, who fell off the vehicle during the crash, was also taken to the hospital. Police said they don’t believe the motorcyclist’s injuries are life-threatening.
While the motorcyclist has not been charged at this time, police continue to investigate the incident.
If you have any information on the crash, please call the Newark Police Department at 302-366-7100 extension 3414 or email waston@newark.de.us.
