Troopers Investigate Toll Plaza Crash

Newark, DE - Delaware State Police are investigating a four vehicle crash which occurred at the I-95 toll plaza in Newark yesterday evening.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at approximately 7:15 p.m., as Matt Rude, 31, of McLean, VA was operating a 2000 Cadillac and was traveling on I-95 northbound approaching the Delaware Toll Plaza, Newark. For an unknown reason, Rude failed to stop his vehicle as he entered the toll booth area and struck the rear of a 2003 Dodge Durango which was traveling directly in front of him, and which was being operated by Toney Manuel, 54, of Orlando, FL. The Durango then struck two occupied toll booths and the rear of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, which was being operated by John Mitchell, 46, of Charlottesville, VA, and which was traveling directly in front of the Durango preparing to exit the toll booth. Debris from the crash then struck a 2012 Hyundai, which was being operated by Suhaiylah Williams, 37, of Princeton, NJ, and which was stopped in an adjacent lane at the toll booth.

A 51 year old female passenger in the Dodge Durango as well as a 19 year old female passenger in the Cadillac were treated at the scene by New Castle County Paramedics. They were then removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where they were treated for their non-life threatening injuries.

John Mitchell and Toney Manuel were also removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. There were no other injuries.

Matt Rude was cited by troopers with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Reckless Driving, Operating a Vehicle at an Unreasonable Speed, Reckless Driving, Inattentive Driving, and No Proof of Motor Vehicle Insurance. He was arraigned at JP Court 11 and issued a $500.00 secured bond and a $3000.00 unsecured bond. He was then committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution.