Driver charged in five-vehicle crash on Route 1

A Maryland man faces charges after a five-vehicle crash Oct. 13 on Route 1 near Rehoboth Beach.

Police said Kevin Graves, 39, of Fort Washington, Md., was speeding southbound on Route 1 near Sylvan Acres Road in a Ford Flex with no headlights turned on at 6:37 p.m., when a trooper pulled the car over and spoke to Graves. When the trooper went back to his vehicle, police said, Graves sped away. The trooper terminated the pursuit after losing sight of the Flex, which was later seen speeding and driving recklessly southbound on Route 1, still with no headlights on, police said, before crashing into four vehicles that were stopped for a red light at the intersection of Route 1, Munchy Branch Road and Miller Road, police said.

Graves fled the scene on foot after the crash, and police finally found him later in the evening at the crash scene, taking him into custody after he resisted arrest, police said.

An 18-year-old Georgetown woman was taken to an area hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, police said, and there were no other injuries reported.

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene and remained on scene for two hours while Delaware State Police investigated the incident.

Graves was taken to Troop 7, where he was charged with disregarding a police officer’s signal, resisting arrest with violence, third-degree vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an injury crash, reckless driving, and other traffic violations.

He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $4,700 secured bond.