Trenton Man Antonio Adolfo Vasquez Killed in Late-Night Hit-and-Run on Wilmington’s Augustine Cut-Off; Family Demands Justice as Police Seek Driver Who Fled Scene Without Rendering Aid

Wilmington, DE — April 7, 2025 — What should have been a quiet Friday night turned into a nightmare for one family and a haunting mystery for a community.

Antonio Adolfo Vasquez, a 36-year-old man from Trenton, New Jersey, was struck and killed in a hit-and-run while walking along Augustine Cut-Off in Wilmington, Delaware. The incident occurred just before midnight on April 4, leaving behind grief, questions, and a desperate plea for justice.

A Life Cut Short in an Instant

Vasquez was walking southbound on Augustine Cut-Off, a well-traveled road that snakes along the edge of Wilmington, when a speeding vehicle struck him near the intersection with Alapocas Drive. The force of the impact left him with fatal injuries. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but it was already too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver did not stop. No attempt to help. No call to 911. Just silence and the sound of tires screeching away into the night.

Police say there were no eyewitnesses who could immediately identify the vehicle. No surveillance footage has yet been recovered. All investigators found were scattered debris, faint tire marks, and a growing list of unanswered questions.

A Devastated Family Left Behind

Back in Trenton, Antonio’s family is shattered by the news. According to relatives, he had traveled to Wilmington to visit friends and was known for his kindness, hard work, and infectious laughter. He had no enemies—just dreams, responsibilities, and people who loved him deeply.

“He wasn’t just a name,” said his sister, Mariela Vasquez. “He was our everything. He made people laugh, he helped neighbors, he loved his nieces and nephews. He wasn’t supposed to die like this. Not in the dark. Not alone.”

Family members are struggling to come to terms with the way he died—and with the fact that the person responsible has yet to come forward.

Community Urged to Help

The Delaware State Police are now turning to the public for help. With no leads and limited evidence, investigators are asking anyone who may have been in the area between 11:15 p.m. and midnight on Friday to report anything they saw—no matter how minor it may seem.

“If you saw something, say something,” said a spokesperson for the Delaware State Police. “Someone knows what happened. Someone saw something unusual—a speeding car, a loud crash, a vehicle fleeing the scene. We need you to come forward.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Delaware State Police Troop 2 at (302) 365-8484. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or online.

The Broader Impact of Hit-and-Run Crashes

This incident is not an isolated one. Hit-and-runs are on the rise nationally, often leaving victims’ families in limbo—grieving, angry, and fighting for justice with no one to hold accountable.

“These crashes aren’t just numbers. They’re tragedies. They leave families with trauma, unanswered questions, and no closure,” said Tanya Franklin, a victims’ advocate in Delaware. “Antonio Vasquez deserved better. And someone out there knows who did this.”

A Community in Mourning

A small memorial has been set up along Augustine Cut-Off, where candles flicker beside flowers and a photo of Antonio. Messages scrawled on poster board read, “Justice for Antonio” and “We won’t forget.”

His family is planning a vigil this week in both Wilmington and Trenton, inviting the public to stand with them in remembrance and in demand for justice.

“We want to believe there’s still good out there,” said Antonio’s cousin, Luis. “We’re not looking for revenge. We just want the truth. We want whoever did this to take responsibility.”

If you were in the area late Friday night—if you heard something, saw something, or know something—please speak up. A man’s life was stolen. A family was torn apart. And a community will not rest until answers are found.

Let us not allow silence to speak louder than justice.