Delaware State Police have arrested a 23-year-old New Jersey man in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash in Townsend that claimed the lives of two teenage pedestrians in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 20, 2026.
According to investigators, at around 1:10 a.m., a 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl — both from Townsend — were walking an electric bike in or near the left lane of southbound Dupont Parkway, south of Denny Lynn Drive. A Nissan Altima traveling southbound on the same roadway struck both of them. The driver briefly stopped after the collision, then drove away, continuing southbound.
Troopers later spotted the Nissan heading south on Dupont Parkway near Paddock Road in Smyrna and pulled the vehicle over. The driver was identified as Nizaiah Ellis, of Newfield, New Jersey. Officers noted damage to the vehicle consistent with the crash. Ellis was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop 9, where the investigation confirmed the Nissan was the vehicle involved.
Both teenage victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names are being withheld pending notification of their families.
The stretch of roadway where the crash occurred was shut down for roughly four hours while troopers investigated and cleared the scene.
Ellis was charged with two felony counts of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Death, as well as Failure to Report a Collision Resulting in Death. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court and held at the Delaware Department of Correction on a $12,050 secured bond.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing its investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has video footage is asked to contact Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Tips can also be submitted through a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by reaching out to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Victims, witnesses, or anyone who has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs support can contact the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center around the clock via their toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461), or by emailing [email protected].
