
Police officials in Delaware are investigating after two people were hurt on Monday morning when, officials said, their vehicle slammed into a church in Newark, Del.
According to police, officers responded to a car dealership located along the 300 block of East Cleveland Ave. after reports of suspicious activity involving a black sedan and people in the area on foot.
Responding officers, officials said in a Monday update, that officers arriving at the dealership saw a black sedan pull out of the property and onto E. Cleveland Avenue. As the officers tried to conduct a stop of that vehicle, officials said, the driver fled a traffic stop and continued westbound as police called off attempts to stop it.
However, as officers returned to the dealership and continued to look around the area for the vehicle, police officials said, they learned the vehicle they were looking for crashed into St. John AUMP Church, along New London Road in Newark, Del.
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At that time, officials said, first responders arrived to find a single vehicle crashed against the side of the church, causing a partial collapse of the structure and damaging front and side walls of the church.
Two individuals that were in the vehicle were taken to a nearby hospital, where, police officials said, they were listed in stable condition.
Officials said an investigator from the City of Newark is expected to review the building for potential structural issues after the crash.
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The scene, officials said, was cleared by about 5:32 a.m. and, officials said, an investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Newark, Delaware police and by calling Detective James Skinner at 302-366-7100 ext. 3135 or via email at jskinner@newark.de.us.
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