Second Victim Succumbs To Injuries In Salem Church Road Crash, Troopers Release Name

Newark- The Delaware State Police are identifying Lakshmidez Hanumanthappa, 52, from India, as the second victim who has died from injuries sustained in a crash that occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m., on Saturday, August 18, 2018, on Salem Church Road, north of Deasy Drive. Lakshmidez who was a passenger in a Toyota Camry that was involved in the crash was admitted to the Christiana Hospital on August 18, before succumbing to her injuries on August 23, 2018.

Update

Newark- The Delaware State Police have identified Raju Chanappa, 57, from India, who was killed in the crash that occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m., on Saturday, August 18, 2018, on Salem Church Road, north of Deasy Drive, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.

Update

Newark – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred last evening in the Newark area, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.

Jaffe said the incident occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m., on Saturday, August 18, 2018, when a 2013 Toyota Camry was traveling northbound on Salem Church Road, north of Deasy Drive, and a 2018 Ford F-150 was traveling southbound on Salem Church Road.

The operator of the Ford F-150, a 39-year-old man from Bear, attempted to pass a vehicle that was directly in front of him, according to Jaffe. The area in which he was attempting to pass the vehicle was a no passing zone and marked with two solid yellow lines. The F-150 crossed over the center lines and into oncoming traffic, striking the Camry head-on, said Jaffe.

The impact displaced the Camry into a ditch and it overturned on the driver’s side trapping two of the three occupants. The driver, a 31-year-old Newark man, was properly restrained and transported to the Christiana Hospital in serious condition. His two passengers, his father 57-years old and his mother 52-years old were seated in the back seat, unrestrained. Both were transported to the Christiana Hospital, where the 57-year-old male was pronounced deceased, and the 52-year-old female was in critical condition. Identification is pending next of kin notification.

The operator of the F-150 was properly restrained and transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threating injuries. In addition to disregarding the traffic control device (lane markings), it is suspected that alcohol may also be a contributing factor, said Jaffe.

Salem Church Road in the vicinity of Deasy Drive was closed for approximately 3 hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

This crash continues to remain under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.

Breaking Report

Rescue crews are responding to Salem Church Road at Reybold Road for reports of a rollover crash involving multiple patients trapped.

At 10:54 Command is reporting that two patients have been extricated. Other patients are still trapped. At 11:00 Command is reporting that a third patient has been pulled from under a vehicle.

Early indications are that at least one patient is being transported to CER Trauma.

Developing

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