Texting While Driving Allegedly Causes Del. Crash

Driver crashes while texting under the influence of oxycodone, cops say

A Laurel, Del. man was charged with two counts of vehicular assault after allegedly crashing while texting Wednesday afternoon in Seaford, Del.

Jeffrey Downes, 25, reportedly crashed into the back of a stopped car after failing to slow down as he approached an intersection, according to Delaware State Police.

Downes was also allegedly under the influence of drugs, police said.

Cops say they found oxycodone pills thrown around the inside of Downes' 2006 Honda Pilot.

William Davis was driving the 2000 Ford Mustang that was rear-ended with his wife Keisha in the passenger seat and their 3-year-old son in the back, police said.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis of Delmar, Del. were treated and released from Nanticoke Hospital after sustaining non-life threatening injuries. Their son, who was securely buckled in his child seat, was unharmed, police said.

After talking with witnesses, police discovered that Downes had also hit a Verizon phone box on the same road, cops said.

Downes was charged with two counts of vehicular assault, driving under the influence of drugs and two counts of failure to drive in the proper lane and direction, according to the police report.


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