Police: Speed A Factor In Crash That Ripped Car In Half, Drivers Identified

Newark – The Delaware State Police are investigating a motor vehicle crash that occurred this morning near Newark, according to Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz.

Bratz said the preliminary investigation has determined the incident occurred around 7:50 a.m.Monday, June 19, 2017 as a 2010 Cadillac SRX, operated by Fredia L. Walmsley, 34 of Wilmington, was traveling eastbound on Chapman Road in the right lane approaching University Plaza.

A 2004 Hyundai Sonata, operated by Jonathan L. Favors, 34 of New Castle was traveling westbound on Chapman Road in the left turn lane and was approaching University Plaza. As Favors attempted to make a left turn onto University Plaza the Cadillac SRX entered the intersection and the SRX’s front center collided with the Sonata’s right side. The collision caused the rear passenger seats to the rear bumper of the Sonata to be ripped off the vehicle and caused the vehicle to rollover towards the University Plaza parking lot, said Bratz.

The Cadillac SRX continued to travel forward and started to move to the right and collided with the guard rail and then bounced back into the roadway. The Cadillac SRX began to rollover to its left side still heading eastbound on Chapman Road and rolled over one and half times landing on its top on the south edge of Chapman Road. The Hyundai Sonata was split in half and the rear end rolled over into the University Plaza parking lot. The vehicle’s front end spun clockwise and came to a stop west of University Plaza and south of Chapman Road.

Fredia L. Walmsley, who was properly restrained, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both passengers in the Cadillac SRX, a 13 year old and a 2 year old, were properly restrained and transported to the Christiana Hospital to be evaluated and were cleared with no injuries. Walmsley was cited for Unreasonable Speed.

Jonathan L. Favors, who was properly restrained, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Favors was cited for Failure to Yield Right of Way.

Troopers are continuing their investigation into this crash.  The eastbound lanes of Chapman Road were closed for approximately 1 ½ hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Original Story

Newark – Delaware State Police, along with Christiana Fire Company, responded to Chapman Road and Route 273 this morning for a report of a vehicle accident with a rollover.

Arriving units found a high impact crash that ripped a small Hyundai car completely in half and a Cadillac SRX on its top.  The impact ripped the back end of the Hyundai off the car and sent it flying into the ACME parking lot, landing about 40 yards away.

After ripping trough the Hyundai the SRX lost control and rolled, sending debris in all directions, finally coming to a stop about 80 yards from the impact zone on Chapmen Road.

Reports from the scene indicate that four people were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The back end of the car narrowly missed Kevin Clark’s silver Ford Mustang. Clark a 35 year employee of ACME said that he parks his car in the back of the lot so it doesn’t get damaged.  After inspecting his car he said that it looks like there was no damage to his car.

Clark wondered where the two or three cars that usually park next to his were, adding that they would have been hit if they were here today.

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