DWI Hit Parade: Cops say DUI Driver Michael Gonzalez Killed Douglas Baker in fiery crash on U. S. 13
LAUREL, DEL. — A Maryland man was killed by an accused DUI driver on U. S. 13 early on July 30, 2016, according to Delaware State Police Spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier. Delaware State Police reports that the deceased was Douglas H. Baker Jr., 42 of Salisbury. Fournier reports that his wife, Tracey D. Baker, 41, remains hospitalized at Crozer-Chester Hospital in Chester, PA.
Police say that the incident occurred around 1:41 a.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016, as Michael J. Gonzalez, 32, of Paramount, California, was operating a 2014 Ford F250 southbound on Sussex Highway (US13) in the right lane, just north of Boyce Road at an apparent high rate of speed.
The Mercedes subsequently became engulfed in flames, trapping the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say that Baker was operating a 1998 Mercedes SUV southbound in the right lane of U.S. 13 just ahead of the pick-up truck when the front of the truck overtook and crashed into the rear of the Mercedes in the right lane.
When Gonzalez’s truck hit the Mercedes, police say the SUV rotated violently in a clockwise direction while spinning down a grass embankment and overturning into the thick roadside foliage. The Ford rotated slightly in a clockwise direction and exited the roadway onto the grass embankment before coming to stop. The Mercedes subsequently became engulfed in flames, trapping the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gonzalez was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with Vehicular Homicide 1st, Vehicular Assault 1st, Vehicular Assault 2nd, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, No Insurance, Driving Without a Valid License, and Inattentive Driving.
Tracey Baker, who was a passenger in her husband’s Mercedes, was able to exit the vehicle. She suffered substantial burns and multiple blunt force injuries and was flown to Crozer-Chester Hospital in Chester, PA where she is currently admitted.
Michael Gonzalez and a 44-year-old male passenger were both transported by EMS to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. Gonzalez was transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with Vehicular Homicide 1st, Vehicular Assault 1st, Vehicular Assault 2nd, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, No Insurance, Driving Without a Valid License, and Inattentive Driving. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $40,000.00 cash bond.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. US13 southbound at Boyce Road was closed for approximately four hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.