Mother, 10-year-old child killed by speeding driver fleeing traffic stop in Delaware

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- A woman and a child are dead and six others are injured after a speeding driver fled a traffic stop, ran a red light, and crashed into a family's minivan in New Castle, Delaware, according to police.

The crash involved three vehicles and happened around 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of Airport and Christiana roads.

Police say troopers pulled over a 2022 Kia K5 on the 100 block of South Dupont Highway at 11:08 p.m.

At some point, police say the driver fled the traffic stop. Troopers eventually lost sight of the driver, investigators said, adding that at no point was the Kia actively pursued by law enforcement.

Roughly 12 minutes after the traffic stop, video shows the Kia running a red light and crashing head-on into a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan as it turned from Christiana Road onto Airport Road, causing it to flip several times.

Video captured the Kia hitting another vehicle, which came to a stop in a gas station parking lot.

According to police, the Dodge minivan was making a left turn on Airport Road after the traffic lights for the eastbound thru lanes turned green and while the westbound lanes remained red.

At the same time, the Kia, which was traveling westbound on Christiana Road at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at the red traffic light, slamming into the right side of the minivan in the intersection. The minivan then spun and rolled over. After the impact, the Kia deflected to the right, crossing over the cement median, and striking a 2020 Hyundai Tucson that was preparing to turn right onto Christiana Road westbound from Airport Road.

The driver of the minivan, 29-year-old Karisma Stevens, and her 10-year-old daughter Zamiyah -- both from New Castle, Delaware -- were pronounced dead at the scene.

Four other passengers inside the minivan, all of whom are Stevens' children, were taken to an area hospital. At least one of them is in critical condition.

"They took my baby away," said Karisma's mother, Yolanda Urena. "Two beautiful souls snatched just like that...for what?"

Urena said her daughter recently finished a program at Colorado Technical University, where she received an associate's degree.

"Everybody's broken down. I just don't even know how to tell the other kids," she added.

The driver of the Kia, a 26-year-old man from Bear, Delaware, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

A 43-year-old woman driver inside the Hyundai, who is also from Bear, Delaware, was also taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

The names of the Kia and Hyundai drivers have not been released.