Defendant in Christmas Eve crash pleads guilty to three charges

A 46-year-old Millsboro man was sentenced to 12 months probation after pleading guilty to three charges related to a Christmas Eve 2022 crash on Route 9 outside Lewes that left three people dead. The state announced more charges could be filed. 

Jason Wilcox pleaded guilty to two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and drug possession charges in Delaware Superior Court in Georgetown Oct. 4. If he violates probation, he will serve four-and-a-half years in prison.

Wilcox had also been charged with seven counts of leaving the scene of a crash causing injury or death, but his attorney successfully argued to have those charges dropped. Mat Marshall, spokesman for the Delaware Department of Justice, said the state intends to refile those charges pending investigation.

On Christmas Eve, Wilcox was driving a 2016 Land Rover westbound on Route 9 approaching Minos Conaway Road. The crash happened when a 2008 Honda Odyssey, operated by a 42-year-old man from Temple, Pa., attempted to turn left from Minos Conaway Road onto Route 9 and ended up in the path of the Land Rover. The front of the Land Rover struck the driver’s side of the Honda. The Honda contained seven occupants including the driver.

Wilcox allegedly fled the scene on foot; he was located and arrested Dec. 25 by Delaware State Police at his Millsboro home. Among the charges filed were four counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing injury, and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

On Jan. 5, Wilcox’s attorney, Michael Abrams, successfully got the leaving the scene charges dropped from the original case after arguing the state did not show sufficient probable cause to charge him with those crimes and that charging him with seven counts was excessive. He argued if the state was going to charge him with leaving the scene, it should be one charge since it stems from one accident. He added that even if the state were to charge Wilcox with seven counts, the affidavit of probable cause does not list the names of any of the victims, as is custom when charging counts for multiple victims, he said.

Deputy Attorney General Angelica Enders, representing the state, argued that a person is charged with leaving the scene of an accident if that person fails to stop and provide reasonable assistance. She said Wilcox did not do that, and the charges were for all seven people for whom he failed to provide reasonable assistance.

Following the Dec. 24 incident, Wilcox was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony second-degree burglary, two felony counts of theft under $1,500 where the victim is 62 or older and two counts of felony theft of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle theft charges were reduced to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Wilcox had taken the Land Rover from a house in the 500 block of Kings Highway that was unoccupied at the time. Wilcox had previously done contracting work at the house and had access to the keys. Following the crash, Wilcox after allegedly took a second car from the same house where he took the Land Rover.

The crash killed a 35-year-old woman and a 9-year-old girl, both from Temple, Pa., and a 74-year-old Lewes man. The driver, a 12-year-old boy, a 4-year-old boy and a 67-year-old woman all survived with non life-threatening injuries. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information.