Photos courtesy of Wayne Barrall at Fire in the Hole Photography.
At 4:50 PM this evening the Delaware State Police contacted the Maryland State Police about a fatal accident in Laurel, DE. on Rt. 13 and Whitesville Road. A witness saw the accident and proceeded to follow the pickup truck that fled the scene and took off all the way to Parsonsburg Road and parked the pickup truck behind the home in Parsonsburg, MD.
Maryland State Police immediate dispatched an Officer to that location where the witness watched the driver put a tarp over the truck. The WCSO was also dispatched to the scene where they did find the P/U behind the home covered by a tarp. It was very clear this vehicle was damaged from an accident.
The driver of the truck, Justin Mitchell, 25 yoa fled the home on foot. The MSP Aviation Helicopter and the WCSO K-9 Officer looked for Mitchell and we later notified that Mitchell had contacted a Sheriff's Deputy by phone, (Mitchell had a criminal history) and agreed to meet with the WCSD and turned himself in.
The P/U Truck was not registered and Mitchell's license was revoked and suspended.
The WCSO delivered Mitchell to the MSP in Salisbury where the DSP will extradite him to Delaware ASAP. The deceased victim is 25 yoa names Philip Jester of Delmar, DE. Father of 2 children. Philip's Fiance was driving right behind Philip when the accident happened. Keep her and the children in your prayers.
MSP & Sheriff Mike Lewis met with the Jester Family. The charges will be something like homicide by motor vehicle or vehicular manslaughter. I'm awaiting a Press Release.
GO HERE to see the accident and motorcycle Philip Jester was driving courtesy of Wayne Barrall of Fire in the Hole Photography.
My prayers are with Philip Jester's family.
ReplyDeleteJoe
ReplyDeleteFITHP has the pics of the motorcycle that was hit on their site.
Very sad. My prayers go out to the victim and everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteThe red neck is listed 24 times in the Maryland Judiciary Case search in just a few short years.
We need to do the 3 Strike law nation wide.
Another incredible job by the Maryland State Police, Wicomico County Sheriff's Department and Delaware State Police. Again, teamwork triumphs over the criminals.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteAnother incredible job by the Maryland State Police, Wicomico County Sheriff's Department and Delaware State Police. Again, teamwork triumphs over the criminals.
9:34 PM
Good work. You won't see that kind of cooperation with the Salisbury Police Department because they've been known to say "we don't play well together."
WTF!
Seems this is the 3rd time hes been caught driving WITHOUT a license. He has charges of theft, assault, drunk driving and other things. This POS should have been locked away
ReplyDeleteJoe:
ReplyDeleteCould you please call WMDT and tell them that MSP has him in custody. Their website still says that DSP is looking for a blue pickup. Maybe you can give them the scoop that the search is over
anonymous 9:49,
ReplyDeleteI did, they'll cover it at 10:00 and 11:00.
Do not overlook the citizen that took the significant initiative to follow and report the location of the perpetrator.
ReplyDeleteHats off to citizens who are willing to get involved. Law enforcement it so much more effective when citizens report crime.
Hey Joe:
ReplyDeleteIs that fire truck in the picture the one that Gordo wants to copy the paint scheme? Red and black?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteDo not overlook the citizen that took the significant initiative to follow and report the location of the perpetrator.
Hats off to citizens who are willing to get involved. Law enforcement it so much more effective when citizens report crime.
9:57 PM
Excellent point. The citizen is the REAL hero. This would have never been solved without their involvement
957--I'm fiarly sure those are Laurel, DE fire trucks, not Salisbury.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHey Joe:
Is that fire truck in the picture the one that Gordo wants to copy the paint scheme? Red and black?
9:57 PM
BINGO!!!!
I saw a Salisbury fire truck at Tire King in Delmar. Looked like they were replacing the brakes or tires. Why is a DE company working on Salisbury vehicle? And it was behind the building. I think they were hiding it from you Joe.
ReplyDeleteI know a witness to the accident, it was senseless and justice will be served. My prayers go out to the family of Philip Jester. Two senseless deaths in Delmar within two weeks, i just dont understand what some people are thinking.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHey Joe:
Is that fire truck in the picture the one that Gordo wants to copy the paint scheme? Red and black?
THEN
MelissaW said...
957--I'm fiarly sure those are Laurel, DE fire trucks, not Salisbury.
Melissa:
Please read the first statement. Nowhere does it say that it is a Salisbury fire truck. It asks if that is the fire truck that Salisbury wants to copy the paint scheme from. Reading/comprehension skills are taught at an early age.
Can someone catch the Daily Times up? They are still reporting ON THE FRONT PAGE of their website that the driver has not yet been caught.
ReplyDeleteThe witness is a hero. Crimes are solved faster when witnesses are willing to come forward with information. This one went above and beyond to help law enforcement. Wish those with information about drug dealers would follow suit.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Delaware will be tougher on him than Maryland was. I kind of doubt it though. He'll most likely be driving around drunk again shortly.
ReplyDeleteAs a motorcyclist, my deepest sympathy goes out the the victim's family. I also hope that Mitchell gets what he deserves for taking the father away from two young children.
ReplyDeleteThis is also a reminder as spring approaches, folks, share the road and look out for motorcyclists.
Joe, did you scope out the rag this morning? they had 8 more hours than you to get the story right and they still couldn't do it! According to them, the driver is still on the loose! Ridiculous....
Since the accident occurred in Delaware, does anyone know if the rider of the motorcycle who was killed wearing a helmet?
ReplyDeletePhilip and I grew up across the street from one another. He was a few years younger than me, but he was a good kid. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well. It's an absolute tragedy that he was taken from his children in such a way. I hope they prosecute that jackass to the full extent of the law.
ReplyDeleteA witness i spoke to said the truck had squealed his tires in a effort to beat the motorcycle as he crossed Rt 13 but because he did not have much traction he went into the intersection slower than expected which caused the motorcyclist to hit him. Then he decides to leave the scene as a man lays in the highway to die,this is very sad and i hope he gets the Maximum punishment.He was wearing a helmet and was not speeding.He was enjoying a nice day on something im sure he enjoyed doing,riding his bike.My prayers to his family and his fiance who was following him when this tragedy happened.
ReplyDelete10:19 guy..
ReplyDeleteYes he was wearing a helmet. It was a full faced helmet also. I saw it on the back of a car. You can see it in a few of the photos on my site. From everything I was told at the scene from others riding along side the guys just before the accident happened that Phillip was not doing anything wrong. He was just enjoying a ride on a nice warm day unitil some jerk wanted to break the law and take a life and not care about the person enough to stay and try and help!
I hope the driver of the truck gets the death sentance and fast. We should not have to pay for him to sit in jail for 60 years. He didnt care enough about the person life he took so why should we care about his!
What a horrible human being!Driving illegally is bad enough but he did not have to leave the scene!
ReplyDeleteI was supposed to be riding with Phil monday afternoon but was late getting out. I had met him earlier in the day in seaford and was going to call him to ride with him and his friends. I was not close with Phil but we had met before in Salisbury where he worked. He does wear a helmet and is a very sensible person. Not only was i supposed to be riding with him when this happened but i was actually headed to salisbury on my motorcycle, a 95 suzuki gsxr 1100.. the exact same motorcycle phil had, minutes after this happened. Authorities had the scene under control, so I did not stop, but noted that it was a similar model to mine and hoped that it was not Phil, recalling our missed meeting. This makes me sick to know I could have been with him and seen this or to know this could have been me or my brothers whom also ride. If anyone knows of a benefit or some kind of assistance other bikers could help with, please contact me via email, as I do not have reliable contact information for Phil. Kudos to the citizen that did the right thing in following the hit and run motorist. May authorities not be kind to that POS that gambles with a motorcyclists life. My email is "shane666mellin@yahoo.com"
ReplyDeleteRiP Phil <3 You were an amazingly talented person and all around great guy.
ReplyDeleteyou will be greatly missed.
<3 Allison & David
Melissa B.
ReplyDeletePhillip we will miss you! We had some fun times back in VA. We will never forget those memories. Deepest sympathys and wonderful memories on behalf of myself and everyone at Webber Babtist Church, VA. Our love and prayers to the family.