Man Killed After Lyft Driver Kicks Him, Friends Out On DE Highway

DEWEY BEACH, DE — A man was killed Sunday when he was hit by a car after a Lyft driver kicked him and his friends out of their vehicle, according to Delaware State Police.

The incident happened just before 1:45 a.m. Sunday on southbound Route 1 south in Dewey Beach, according to police. The victim and five of his friends hired a Lyft driver to pick them up in Dewey Beach and take them back to their residence in Bethany Beach.

The group and the Lyft driver disagreed during the ride, according to police. The driver then terminated the ride and stopped in the southbound left lane, demanding all six passengers exit the vehicle, authorities said.

As the victim and the other passengers were getting out of the car, a 27-year-old man driving a Toyota Corolla in the same lane approached the stopped vehicle. As the driver of the Corolla changed lanes to avoid striking the rear of the Lyft vehicle, he hit the victim, who had climbed out of the right rear passenger seat of the Lyft vehicle and was standing on the road, according to police.

After striking the victim, the Corolla immediately pulled over, police said. Meanwhile, the Lyft vehicle fled southbound immediately after the crash.

The victim, a 43-year-old man from Clarksburg, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not yet identified the driver of the Lyft vehicle. The accident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the collision should call 302-703-3264. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or online at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.