A New Jersey man from Gloucester County was arrested and charged after he allegedly hit and killed two teenage pedestrians in Townsend, Delaware, over the weekend.
Delaware State Police say Nizaiah Ellis, from Newfield, New Jersey, was traveling southbound on Dupont Parkway around 1:10 a.m. Saturday, when two teens were walking an electric bike in or near the left lane of southbound Dupont Parkway near Denny Lynn Drive. According to state police, that is when Ellis struck both pedestrians.
The victims were Nathan Sinex and Cara Feeley, both of Townsend, state police said in an update Monday. Both were 17 years old.
On June 20, 2026, at approximately 1:10 a.m., Sinex and Feeley were pedestrians walking an electric bike in or near the left lane of southbound Dupont Parkway, south of Denny Lynn Drive.
At the same time, a Nissan Altima was traveling southbound on Dupont Parkway toward the pedestrians. The preliminary investigation revealed that the front of the Nissan struck both pedestrians.
Investigators said Sinex and Feeley both died from their injuries.
Following the collision, the driver initially stopped but then continued traveling southbound, leaving the scene.
Troopers later located the Nissan traveling southbound on Dupont Parkway near Paddock Road in Smyrna and conducted a traffic stop.
Troopers contacted the driver, identified as Nizaiah Ellis, and observed damage to the Nissan consistent with the collision. Ellis was taken into custody without incident and taken to Troop 9.
Through the investigation, troopers confirmed the Nissan was involved in the crash.
The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
Ellis was charged with failing to report a collision that resulted in death and with two counts of leaving the scene of such a collision resulting in death. He was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court and sent to the Delaware Department of Correction on a secured bond of $12,050.
Fundraisers are underway to benefit the families of two teens that were killed.
“There are no words that can truly prepare a parent for the unimaginable,” said Jennifer Jones, the mother of one of the victims. “On June 20, 2026, our lives were forever changed when our beloved son, Nathan, and his beautiful girlfriend, Cara, were tragically taken from us in an accident while walking together with his electric bike.”
“Nathan was only beginning his journey, but anyone who knew him knew he lived with a heart bigger than life itself,” said Jones. “He was spirited, creative, innovative, and fiercely strong-willed. Full of energy, laughter, and endless ideas, Nathan loved deeply and left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him. Beneath his tough moments was a beautiful soul with an incredible capacity for love.”
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has video to contact Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police(Opens in a new window.) or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers(Opens in a new window.) at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center(Opens in a new window.) is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461).
You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.
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