Weather Alert

Small Craft Advisory from TUE 5:00 PM EDT until WED 2:00 AM EDT

Police: Georgetown circle struck twice in one weekend by drunk drivers

Madeleine Overturf
Madeleine Overturf
Evening Broadcast Journalist

Madeleine has been with Draper Media since 2016, when she first worked as Sussex County Bureau Chief. She helped launch the rebranded CoastTV in 2019. As co-anchor of CoastTV News at 5 and 6, Maddie helps organize the evening newscasts and performs managerial responsibilities such as helping find and assign stories, approving scripts, and making content decisions.

Author email
Oct 19, 2025
Oct 19, 2025 Updated Oct 19, 2025

georgetown crash sunday.jpg — Georgetown Police say 35-year-old Santos Niz-Chilel, a man from Georgetown, was arrested early Sunday morning after plowing into the circle.

Georgetown Police say 35-year-old Santos Niz-Chilel, a man from Georgetown, was arrested early Sunday morning after plowing into the circle.

GEORGETOWN, Del. — For the second time this weekend, a driver crashed into the circle in downtown Georgetown—this time ending in a DUI arrest and brief chase.

Georgetown Police say 35-year-old Santos Niz-Chilel, a man from Georgetown, was arrested early Sunday morning, Oct. 19, after crashing a car near North Bedford Street and the circle. Officers responded to the area just after 1 a.m. and say they saw Niz-Chilel running away from the scene. Officers quickly caught up to Niz-Chilel and arrested him.

According to a preliminary investigation, Niz-Chilel had been driving south on North Bedford Street when he drove straight into the circle. The crash damaged a street sign and nearby flower beds. Police say the extent and cost of repairs are still being evaluated.

georgetown crash sunday 2.jpg — Georgetown police say a drunk driver hit this sign early Sunday morning.

Georgetown police say a drunk driver hit this sign early Sunday morning.

Niz-Chilel faces multiple charges, including:

Driving Under the Influence
Resisting Arrest
Criminal Mischief
Failure to Provide Information
Leaving the Scene of a Crash

He is being held at Sussex Correctional Institution.

Second crash within the weekend

This is the second time since Friday that a driver has crashed into the circle. On Friday night, 28-year-old Dwayne Boney of Smyrna was arrested after a high-speed chase ended with his car slamming into the circle's interior.

Georgetown circle crash — A 28-year-old Smyrna man was arrested Friday night after police say he crashed into the Georgetown Circle following a high-speed chase, causing what police say is significant damage. (Courtesy: Georgetown Fire Department)

A 28-year-old Smyrna man was arrested Friday night after police say he crashed into the Georgetown Circle following a high-speed chase, causing what police say is significant damage. (Courtesy: Georgetown Fire Department)

Boney also faces DUI and multiple traffic charges.

History of crashes sparks committee, memorial movement

It's crashes like these that in part sparked a committee in Georgetown dedicated to improving safety in the circle. Among the topics the group has considered is where to put memorials to fallen police officers after both were destroyed in separate car crashes.

As of September 2025, the plan was to move the memorials near two raised flower beds at North Bedford and South Bedford streets, still on the circle but more protected.

Both weekend crashes are under investigation. Georgetown Police are asking anyone with information to call 302-856-6613.

Madeleine Overturf

Evening Broadcast Journalist

Madeleine has been with Draper Media since 2016, when she first worked as Sussex County Bureau Chief. She helped launch the rebranded CoastTV in 2019. As co-anchor of CoastTV News at 5 and 6, Maddie helps organize the evening newscasts and performs managerial responsibilities such as helping find and assign stories, approving scripts, and making content decisions.