05/04/2008 7:45 PM ET; Updated 05/06/2008 9:50 AM ET
GEORGETOWN, Del.- Delaware State Police have charged a Laurel man with leaving the scene of a five-vehicle accident near Georgetown that killed four people Saturday.
Police say 38-year-old Apoliar Gutierrez-Santico surrendered to police Monday morning. He also was charged with driving without a license and failure to have insurance identification in posession. After a hearing with a Justice of the Peace, he was locked up in the Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,100 cash bail.
Police say he was driving a car that was struck during the chain reaction crash.
Police say the crash occurred at around 8 p.m. According to police, a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am was stopped at the red light on eastbound State Route 9 at State Route 30. Meantime, a 2001 Chrysler Seibring operated by Ronanda Ayers, 29, of Lewes, Del. was stopped behind the Pontiac.
According to police, a 1995 Chevrolet Suburban approached the intersection as the light turned green and failed to slow down for stopped traffic. Police say the Chevrolet struck the rear of the Seibring as it began to pull away from the light. The Seibring was forced eastbound and struck the rear of the Grand Am. The Seibring continued in a southwest direction and went off the roadway- rolling over several times before it came to a stop.
The operator of the Chevrolet Suburban has been identified as Noe Gonzalo Mendez-Perez, 30, of Georgetown. Alcohol involvement is suspected. However, it has not been confirmed if alcohol was a factor in the cause of the crash which remains under investigation.
According to police, a 1996 GMC pickup, operated by William Low, 30, of Georgetown, Del. and a Dodge Stratus, operated by Terrance Palmer, 21, of Georgetown, were traveling westbound on State Route 9 at the time of the initial crash. Police say that after the initial impact, the Suburban continued forward, crossed the center of the road and into the westbound lanes where it then struck the GMC head-on. The Suburban then rolled over and caught fire. The final impact involved the Pontiac Grand AM and the Dodge Stratus.
Three occupants in the Suburban died as a result of this crash. Ayers also died as a result of this crash.
Police say alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash on the parts of Low and Palmer. Low was also not wearing his seatbelt, according to police.
