Laurel – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred south of Laurel early Tuesday evening, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the incident occurred around 8:12 p.m. Tuesday August 29, 2017 as Carman L. Williams, 60 of Philadelphia Pennsylvania was operating a 2006 Buick Lucerne westbound on Gordy Road stopped at a posted stop sign at the intersection of Sussex Highway (US 13). A 62-year-old male from Nelsonia, Virginia was operating a 2011 Kenworth T660 bobtail tractor northbound on Sussex Highway approaching Gordy Road.
For unknown reasons, the operator of the Lucerne failed to remain stopped and entered the intersection directly in the path of the tractor trailer, said Jaffe. In an attempt to avoid the collision the tractor trailer operator swerved to the left, however the front of Kenworth struck the driver’s side of the Lucerne. After impact, the Lucerne was redirected northbound and slid into the grass median before coming to a stop. The tractor trailer swerved into the southbound lanes, crossing the center median before coming to a stop on the southbound shoulder of U.S. 13.
Carman Williams, who was properly restrained, was transported to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford via ambulance where she was later pronounced dead. A 25-year-old male passenger and a 17-year-old female passenger (grandchildren of Williams) were properly restrained and transported by EMS to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 62-year-old male operator of the tractor trailer was properly restrained and reported no injuries at the scene.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. US13 northbound and southbound at Gordy Road were closed for four hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.