Delaware State Police have issued an update to Sunday’s fatal crash in Seaford that resulted in the deaths of two UMES students, IDing the students.
Here’s what we know now.
UMES students who died from North Carolina, Pennsylvania
Delaware State Police have identified 22-year-old Eric Staley from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and 18-year-old Makayla Belton from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, as the individuals who died in the fatal crash on Sunday in Seaford.
The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Master Corporal K. Argo by calling 302-703-3264. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The original story on crash: Two UMES students die in early Sunday morning crash in Delaware
What happened in Sunday’s crash that killed two UMES students
Here’s what Delaware State Police said happened, and a statement from UMES on the tragedy.
On Oct. 6, 2024, at about 1:34 a.m., a 2016 Nissan Rogue was traveling southbound on Sussex Highway in the left lane, south of Cannon Road. At the same time, a 2005 Honda Pilot was traveling northbound, also in the left southbound lane on Sussex Highway, into the Rogue’s path of travel. As a result, the front of the Rogue struck the front of the Pilot in the left southbound lane of Sussex Highway, police said.
The Rogue’s rear passenger, Makayla Belton, a first-year, 18-year-old female student from Willow Grove, PA, and the Rogue’s front passenger Eric Staley, a third-year unenrolled male student from Fayetteville, N.C., died in the crash in which their car was struck by the Pilot.
The driver of the Rogue, a 22-year-old man from Washington D.C., and the left rear passenger, an 18-year-old woman from Bethesda, Maryland, were taken to an area hospital for critical injuries.
The driver of the Pilot, a 24-year-old man from Georgetown, was taken to an area hospital for serious injuries. Impairment was suspected to be a factor, police said. The Pilot’s passenger, a 40-year-old man from Georgetown. was taken to an area hospital for critical injuries.
The roadway was closed for about 3 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
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UMES president issues statement, consoles students and staff
“We grieve the loss of our UMES students and pray for the other students hurt have a full recovery,” said UMES President Heidi M. Anderson.
In a statement to the campus community, Anderson added: “This tragedy has taken two promising young people at the very start of their adult lives and deprived our Hawk community, their families and friends of the dynamic futures they were poised to live.
“Counselors will be available for UMES students, faculty, and staff as we deal with the grief of this tragic accident.”
Students, facility and staff came together for a vigil Monday to remember the two UMES students who died in the crash.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Two UMES students who died in early Sunday morning crash identified
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