Secret Service-involved crash, fire causes damage to Vineyards apartments in Lewes

LEWES — A building in the Mi-Place at Vineyards apartment complex was damaged Tuesday after a traffic collision involving multiple vehicles, one of which was a Secret Service SUV.

According to Delaware State Police spokesperson Cpl./3 Lewis Briggs, the crash happened about 2:15 p.m., when a Chevrolet Silverado was driving west on U.S. 9 and slowed for a red light at Old Vine Boulevard. A Ford Transit van was driving behind it.

At the same time, police said, a Dodge Durango — confirmed by state police to be in use by the Secret Service — was driving east, also approaching the intersection.

Sgt. Briggs said an investigation found that the van did not slow, and its front driver side hit the back passenger side of the Silverado. As a result, the pickup was hit into the opposing lane and collided with the Durango, while the van traveled across a ditch, came to a stop and caught fire near the apartment building at 24209 Zinfandel Lane.

Authorities said the flames caused damage to the building, melting its siding and scorching foliage. But, according to a social media post from the Lewes Fire Department, sprinklers on the first- and second-floor porches helped prevent the fire from spreading and causing damage to the interior.

Cpl. Briggs said the Silverado driver, a 68-year-old Georgetown man; the Transit driver, a 41-year-old Milton man; and the Durango driver, a 42-year-old Pennsylvania man, were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

He added that the Milton man was charged with inattentive driving.

The state fire marshal is investigating the fire.

That area of U.S. 9 was closed for over an hour, the fire department noted.