18-year-old woman, freshman at UD killed by motorcyclist

An 18-year-old female freshman at UD was struck and killed by a fleeing motorcyclist Tuesday. (Photo from Артем Константинов/Adobe Stock)

The day after the University of Delaware welcomed the thousands of students in its entire freshman class with its annual twilight induction ceremony on The Green, one student was struck and killed by a motorcyclist.

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Tuesday night around 11:50 p.m., a first-year UD student died in a traffic accident near campus, which was witnessed by many of her friends and classmates.

“Incidents such as this are unimaginably tragic,” said a joint statement issued by President Dennis Assanis and Vice President José-Luis Riera. “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. Our hearts are very heavy today.”

The 18-year-old woman from New Jersey was in a crosswalk at West Main Street near North College Avenue when she was hit.

After the crash, the driver was thrown from the motorcycle, which was hurled onto the sidewalk and hit four other pedestrians, leaving one of them hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening.

The three others did not need to go to the hospital.

The vehicle also struck a light pole.

“We know that many students, parents and others in our community join us in expressing grief and grave concern,” UD’s statement said. “Especially in a moment like this, we must all come together, to lean on each other, and to do so with extra kindness and empathy. Together, we are stronger, and we must live this truth in the coming days. We are one Blue Hen community.”

Out of respect for the family’s privacy, the name of the killed student has not been released.

Newark Police said the motorcyclist was fleeing a University of Delaware Police traffic stop after committing traffic offenses on East Main and South Chapel streets, according to investigators.

Officials said the motorcycle disregarded the police officer’s emergency lights and fled at a high rate of speed westbound on East Main Street.

Bystanders tried to save the student, police say, but were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The university encourages people struggling in the aftermath of the incident to take advantage of resources and support services, which can be found here .

The crash remains under investigation by the Newark Police Department Traffic Unit, and police ask that anyone with information about this incident contact M/Cpl W. Aston at (302) 366-7100 ext. 3414 or waston@newark.de.us.

Additional methods for providing information to Newark Police can be found on the tips page, where reward information may also be available.