Laurel – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate a motor vehicle crash which has claimed the life of a Laurel woman that occurred yesterday evening, according to a Delaware State Police (DSP) spokesman.
DSP tells First State Update that the investigation thus far has determined that the crash occurred at approximately 9:19 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2017, as a 52-year-old Laurel, DE woman was operating a bicycle and was attempting to travel in a westbound direction across the northbound lanes of US Rt. 13 (Sussex Highway) just north of SR 24 (Laurel Road), .3 miles east of Laurel.
As the bicyclist began to cross the roadway just south of the intersection, she entered directly into the path of a 1981 Honda motorcycle, which was being operated by a 63-year-old Bridgeville, DE man, according to DSP. The front of the motorcycle then struck the bicyclist throwing her into the roadway just north of the intersection where she came to rest. The motorcycle, as well as the male operator, slid off of the roadway and into the grass median where they both came to rest.
The bicyclist, who was wearing dark clothing and was not operating a bike equipped with a light, was removed from the scene by ambulance and transported to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The victim’s name is being withheld pending the notification of her next of kin. It is unknown if alcohol or drug use on the part of the victim was a factor in the crash, said DSP.
The male operator of the motorcycle was also removed from the scene and transported by ambulance to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his non-life threatening injuries. Neither alcohol or drug use on the part of the motorcyclist is being considered as a factor in the crash. The investigation has determined that the traffic signal for northbound traffic on Sussex Highway was green at the time of the crash, according to DSP.
The intersection of Sussex Highway and Laurel Road was closed for approximately 3 hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.