Newark – Delaware State Police said that a little before 8 p.m. on Friday September 2, 2016, Melinda Rodriguez, 26 of Patterson, New York, was driving her Toyota Corolla southbound on Interstate 95 just south of the service area.
Lenny Crosland, 47 of Newark, DE, was driving his 2010 Mercury Mountaineer directly behind the Corolla, according to police. Police said that a pedestrian, who was wearing dark colored clothing, was attempting to cross I-95 from west to east and entered into the path of the Toyota.
Rodriguez slammed on her brakes in an attempt to avoid colliding with the female pedestrian just as the Mountaineer struck the rear of the Corolla and pushed her forward into the female pedestrian, officials said. The pedestrian was then struck by several other unknown vehicles and pronounced dead at the scene.
The female pedestrian was removed from the scene by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to determine her identification.
Melinda Rodriguez, who was properly restrained, was transported by EMS to Christiana Medical Center where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. according to authorities.
Lenny Crosland along with a female passenger, were both properly restrained and uninjured in the crash.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. Drugs and alcohol were not a contributing factor on behalf of either driver. I95 southbound between Exit 1 and Exit 3 was reduced to one lane for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.
