Police: 19 bags of heroin found on man after violent crash in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- Officials say two people fleeing police crashed into another vehicle in Wilmington, Delaware Thursday night.

The incident happened at the intersection of East Lea Boulevard and North Market Street.

It was 9:08 p.m. when a Delaware State Trooper was dispatched to the parking lot of the Miller Road Shopping Center on the 3600 block of Miller Road.

A concerned citizen reported possible drug activity taking place inside a Ford Mustang parked in the parking lot.

When the Trooper arrived on the scene he exited his vehicle and approached the Mustang on foot to investigate. As he approached he observed the operator, identified as 32-year-old Stephen J. Jefferis, injecting a hypodermic needle into his arm.

The Trooper ordered Jefferis and the front seat passenger, identified Michael Whitaker, to raise their arms and not to move. However, Jefferis immediately placed the Mustang into reverse and took off at a high rate of speed out of the parking lot towards 37th Street.

The Mustang turned onto West 37th Street and then made a left onto Franklin Place towards West Lea Boulevard. The car traveled through a stop sign and onto eastbound West Lea Boulevard.

Jeffries allegedly continued at a high rate of speed, swerving into opposing traffic to avoid slower drivers.

Then at approximately 9:12 p.m. the Mustang approached the North Market Street intersection. The car traveled through the red traffic signal at the intersection, striking the passenger side of a 2006 Pontiac G6.

The impact pushed the Pontiac for approximately 200 feet before it came to rest.

55-year-old Martin Spencer of New Castle was behind the wheel of the Pontiac. He was transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center in serious condition.

Mary Smith, 53, of Wilmington was in the front passenger seat of the Pontiac. She was trapped in the vehicle and needed to be extricated by emergency responders. She was transported by Delaware State Police Helicopter to the hospital where she was admitted in critical condition.

Stephen Jefferis was taken into custody at the scene after a brief struggle with Troopers. Police say they found 19 bags of heroin in his possession, as well as a hypodermic needle and drug paraphernalia consistent with heroin use inside of the Mustang. He was transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Michael Whitaker was also taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center with non-life threatening injuries.

No charges have been filed for Whitaker as the investigation continues.

State Police have warrants charging Jefferis with Assault 1st Degree, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Heroin, and other traffic related offenses related to the incident. He will be formally charged when medically cleared and released from the hospital.