Location: RT 30 Isaacs road ½ mile N/O RT 16 Milton, Delaware
DATE and TIME: Sunday August 23, 2009, 7:36 A.M.
Victim(s):
John B. Ward-33 of the 27000 block of Empire Street Georgetown, Delaware (Father) Deceased
Joy L. Ward-32 of the 27000 block of Empire Street Georgetown, Delaware (Mother) Deceased
Sarah Ward-14 of the 27000 block of Empire Street Georgetown, Delaware (Daughter) Deceased
Hailey Ward-8 of the 27000 block of Empire Street Georgetown, Delaware (Daughter) Critical condition Christiana Hospital Wilmington, Delaware
Suspect(s):
Darien Custis-22 of the 200 block Ermine Drive New Castle, Delaware
Charge(s):
3 Counts of Vehicular Homicide
Vehicular Assault
Vehicle(s):
1994 Mercedes S 420 driven by Darien Custis
2007 Toyota Camry driven by John B. Ward
Resume:
Delaware State Police early Sunday morning August 23, 2009 were on scene of a horrific crash which claimed the lives of a Georgetown, Delaware family. State Police responded to RT 30 Isaacs road approximately ½ mile N/O SR 16 Milton Delaware to investigate a two vehicle crash which claimed the lives of 3 family members.
Darien Custis was driving his 1994 Mercedes S420 S/B on Isaacs road RT 30 and John B. Ward was driving his 2007 Toyota Camry N/B Isaacs road Milton, Delaware. Custis was inattentive in his driving and veered into the N/B lane toward the Toyota Camry. The Camry driver John Ward veered to his right and collided head on with the Mercedes. Both vehicles basically veered in the same direction. The Mercedes veered left, while the Toyota Camry veered right.
As a result of the crash three occupants of the Camry perished from injuries sustained in the crash. Joy L. Ward the mother was seated in the front right seating position restrained properly. Sarah Ward the daughter was seated in the rear left seating position restrained properly. John Ward the father was the operator restrained properly. Hailey Ward-8 the daughter was sitting on the lap of Joy Ward and was unrestrained. Hailey initially was taken to Beebe Hospital however has been flown to AI Dupont Children’s hospital in Wilmington.
Delaware State Police as a result of their investigation have charged Darien Custis with 3 Counts of Vehicular Homicide and 1 count of Vehicular Assault. Custis was remanded to Sussex Correctional Center in lieu of $16000.00 cash bail.
17 comments:
Just curious Joe why this story, now over 12 hours old, isn't on DelmarvaNow.com along with other local items like the woman killed right around the corner in Glen Burnie, ODU razing a campus house and Wilmington City Council banning cell phone use while driving ('cause their cops aren't very busy).
Because the Press Release just came out.
I can't answer for the DT's but I just returned from vacation and did our best to keep everyone informed while away.
omg what a horrible, horrible tragedy! i can't imagine having been the family member to have received that news...
Was the little girl (Hailey) 8 or 3 years old?
It says 8 near the top, but 3 in the paragraph later.
We're looking into that and will make changes as soono as we get a reply. Thanks for the heads up.
That is sad but interesting how the only one not seat belted in is, so far, still alive.
The Family is devasted. Hailey is 8, and has recieved surgery. Her pancreas is damaged, her liver is lacerated, and her skull is fractured. Please please pleese keep her in your prayers.
~A Cousin of the Family
We lived right next door to the Wards up until March 2009, My daughter Ariana was very good friends with Hailey, they were such a nice family, this is such a horrible tragedy. We are all devasted to hear of this. Please keep us updated on Haileys condition. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and Hailey.
-Webb Family-
I Was 1 of sarahs friends and im very heartbroken that i lost her as a friend due to some1s carelessness.my prayers go to hailey and i know she'll pull through.My prayers also go out to her family to stay strong.
Hailey was not on her mom Joy's lap, she was in a seat belt in the back of the car!
There are two incorrections here. Hailey is 8 years old and was seated in the back in a seat belt not on her mom's lap in the front.
Hailey was not in her moms lap, she was seated in the back seat with seat belt on that is most likely how she got injuries to her pancreas and liver! I understand that accidents happen and drugs or alcohol were not a factor but Its my understanding that Darien was on work release and shouldn't even have been out or even in this area at that hour..if he obeyed his work release this would have never happened.
Joy just gave me a manicure and pedicure back in June. I had never met her before, but she talked non-stop about her girls and how much she loved her husband. She told me her girls were her life and she loved her husband so much. I think she mentioned they had just renewed their wedding vows. She was a lovely lady and hilarious. may they rest in peace.
I was very good friends with John and his brother in 11th and 12th grade.I lived a block away and John was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet and to here this news is devastating. It just doesn’t seem real. I can’t imagine how the family feels. It may have been an accident but a preventable one. I hope Custis gets the max sentence for what he’s put this family through. My heart goes out to John and Joy’s families.
Hailey was on her Mom's lap..she had been having some siezure problems and was on her Mom's lap. Joy was found holding Haleigh tightly after the crash, Joy portected Haleigh. The family is devistated, I am a friend of John's mother Toni. Please pray hard for the recovery of Haleigh, she is all that is left of this wonderful family. John and Joy had just renewed their wedding vows!
As sorry as I am for the Ward family and their family's loss, everything being said is incorrect! An accident is an accident. The 8 year old girl was not belted. She was on her mother's lap. No one was speeding. No one was driving under the influence. Darien is not a drinker. Your understanding is wrong that he was on work release! He is not a criminal! Maybe he made a mistake in the past but this was a pure accident. I cannot believe that the press is releasing untrue information regarding this horrific accident!! I cannot possibly imagine the pain of the Ward family... NOR the pain that he is going through.
Whom ever wrote the last paragraph, explains exactly how this freak accident should be explained. I was/am a great friend to Darien & also was the neighbor of the only surviving little girl. It's a horrific tragedy, but yet god works misterious ways. Unfortunetly with this inncodent deaths' were involved. My heart goes out to the family who had to deal with the pain of loosing family members and friends & my heart strongly goes out for Darien for the pain and mental suffering he has gone through the passed almost four years of his life. God bless to both family's.
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