Motorist in New Garden took photo of striking vehicle’s license plate
On Sept. 23 at 4:51 p.m., officers were dispatched to a hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Bancroft Road, New Garden Township Police said. The victim advised that he had stopped to make a left-hand turn and was struck from behind by a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse, police said. A witness was able to photograph the striking vehicle’s registration, and through follow-up investigation, the driver was identified as Jose Sandoval-Sanchez, 24, of Oxford, police said.
Sandoval-Sanchez admitted to leaving the scene but stated he told the victim to follow him to his appointment but never provided the necessary information to the victim prior to leaving the scene, police said. Sandoval-Sanchez was released pending an appearance in district court, police said.
At 11:08 p.m. on Sept. 23, New Garden officers observed a vehicle being driven without headlights on West Cypress Street, police said. While following the vehicle, it committed a traffic violation, and a stop was initiated, police said. The driver of the vehicle, Michael Meyers, 21, of Avondale, gave consent to search the vehicle, but revoked it after police found a baggie containing a green vegetable-like substance under the driver’s seat, police said. Meyers was taken into custody without incident and later released pending an appearance in district court, police said.
A hit-and-run accident report led police to Hillendale Road on Sept. 27 at 8:17 p.m., New Garden Police said. The victim had followed the striking vehicle to a parking lot in the unit block of Scarlett Road, police said, where a vehicle with fresh damage consistent with the accident, and the driver, Urbano Martinez-Castaneda, were located, police said. Martinez-Castaneda, 60, of Kennett Square, admitted to being behind the wheel when he struck the victim’s vehicle and to having consumed alcohol, police said. Martinez-Castaneda, who exhibited signs of intoxication, was taken into custody for driving under the influence, police said. Martinez-Castaneda also had a bench warrant and was transported to Chester County Prison by constables, police said.
On Sunday at 12:05 a.m., New Garden officers observed a vehicle driving erratically in the 8800 block of Gap Newport Pike, police said. After weaving back and forth, the vehicle was stopped and police made contact with the driver, Elmer Espinosa, 30 of Wilmington, De, police said. Espinosa, who exhibited multiple signs of intoxication, admitted to consuming several beers. He was taken into custody for suspected drunken-driving and later released pending an appearance in district court, police said.
