Michelle Smith, a 30 year-old volunteer EMT, died Dec. 22, two days after being struck while helping an injured motorcyclist. A member of the Delaware City Fire Department, Smith was on U.S. 13 near New Castle attending to the victim. According to local police, she did not see the BMW that hit a police car at the scene, then struck her and the person she was assisting. The hit-and-run driver subsequently abandoned his car, then fled the scene in another vehicle.

Delaware State Police arrested a man they identified as the driver of the BMW. Joseph Taye, 28, has been charged with first-degree murder for killing the volunteer EMT and first-degree assault for injuring the motorcyclist, 30 year-old Edward Reiss. At press time, Reiss was in critical condition. Taye has also been charged with driving while revoked, leaving the scene of a crash and failing to report a crash.