DOJ secures 59-year sentence for Wilmington man who caused fatal collision that claimed two lives, injured four others

A Wilmington man has been sentenced to prison following his conviction for causing a collision that killed two people and injured four others.

On June 24, DeJuan Robinson, 28, was sentenced to 59 years in prison. The sentencing follows his convictions by a Superior Court jury on two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, two counts of Manslaughter, four counts of Assault 1st Degree, five counts of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree, five counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Disregarding a Red Light, Speeding, Headlights Required, and Disregarding a Police Officer Signal.

"Karisma Elvio-Stevens and Zamiya Elvio should still be with us today. Instead, they were taken from their families by the defendant's callous, reckless decision to try and evade law enforcement without any regard for his surroundings; their remaining family members have been left to make sense of a horrific tragedy that left many of them severely injured," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "This outcome ensures that Robinson will face the full weight of justice. Our DOJ trial team and our partners in law enforcement have done a remarkable job in securing this sentence, and I want to express my gratitude to them."

On August 21, 2024, shortly after 11:00 pm, the Delaware State Police stopped Dejuan Robinson for driving 60-mph in a 45-mph speed zone on Rt. 273 in New Castle. Robinson was stopped in the area of Hare's Corner at Rt. 273 and Rt. 13. During the stop, Robinson put his car in gear and fled; DSP was unable to immediately locate him.

At that point, Robinson doubled back around a building and resumed travelling on Rt. 273 in the opposite direction, extinguishing the car's headlights and speeding away. He then disregarded a red light at Rt. 273 and Churchmans Road and continued driving. By this time, police were no longer following Robinson.

As Robinson approached the intersection of Rt. 273 at Airport Road, the light was red for Rt. 273; cars traveling in the same direction as Robinson were slowing in preparation to stop at the red light. Robinson swerved around one of those cars and accelerated into the intersection travelling over 100 mph without braking or attempting an evasive maneuver. Karisma Elvio-Stevens, facing a green light, was in a Dodge minivan with her five children, making a lawful left hand turn from Rt. 273 onto Airport Road.

Robinson struck the front right side of the Dodge minivan, killing Karisma Elivo-Stevens and her 10-year-old daughter, Zamiyah Elivo, who was in the front passenger seat. Two of her other children were ejected from the minivan in the collision and the remaining two children were rescued from the minivan by a woman who stopped to help after the collision. The four children were all hospitalized and suffered serious physical injury.

Robinson sustained a broken femur in the collision and was also hospitalized. Robinson was arrested while at the hospital.