GEORGETOWN, Del.- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a single vehicle crash north of Georgetown after they said the driver led troopers on a pursuit.
The incident started around 1:10 a.m. Sunday morning as a trooper was driving southbound on Coastal Highway just north of Dartmouth Road with a passenger whom he was assisting from a previous traffic stop.
At the same time, a pickup truck was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Route 1 and almost struck the patrol car head on.
The trooper called 911 about the vehicle and another trooper in the area was able to find the truck that was still heading northbound in the area of the Nassau Bridge.
Authorities said the second trooper began following the truck as it was now in the northbound lanes of Route 1 after crossing over the median and striking a road sign near Wescoats Road.
Once the trooper turned on the police lights the car didn't stop and began accelerating away at a high rate of speed.
Several other officers from Milton PD and Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement assisted in the pursuit as the truck continued north before turning westbound onto Clifton Road.
The pursuit continued through numerous county roads before traveling though the town of Lincoln and eventually southbound on South Old State Road.
The truck continued across Milton-Ellendale Highway before coming to the end of the road where it intersected with South DuPont Boulevard (US113) and crossed both northbound and southbound lanes, ultimately crashing into trees on the west side of the roadway.
The driver, who was later identified as Joseph A. Watkins, had to be extricated before EMS transported him to Milford Memorial Hospital.
He was later transferred to Kent General Hospital where his current condition is unknown.
Traffic in the area of US113 southbound and South Old State Road was impacted for an hour and a half as the crash was investigated and cleared.
Police said that alcohol is believed to be a factor and charges are pending.
