Chain Reaction Crash On South DuPont Highway Leaves One Dead

Dover– The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate a fatal crash, involving five vehicles that occurred last evening, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.

Jaffe said the incident occurred at approximately 5:44 p.m., on Friday, September 7, 2018, when a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound on S0uth DuPont Highway (US 13) towards Walnut Shade Road. A 2009 Ford Flex was slowing in heavy traffic, which had backed up nearly half a mile from the Walnut Shade Road stop light. A 2012 UPS Truck was stopped/slowing in traffic directly in front of the Ford Flex. A 2008 Chevrolet Silverado was stopped/slowing in traffic directly in front of the UPS truck. A 2017 Buick Envision was stopped/slowing in traffic directly in front of the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. All of the vehicles were traveling in the left lane of South DuPont Highway.

The operator of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, a 29-year-old male from Magnolia, failed to observe traffic slowing/stopped in front of him and struck the Ford Flex in the rear, said Jaffe. The impact of the collision was so great that a chain-reaction crash occurred. The Ford Flex was forced into the rear of the UPS Truck, which was forced into the rear of the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, which was forced into the rear of the Buick Envision.

The 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a 39-year-old male from Federalsburg, Maryland and the Buick Envision, driven by a 76-year-old male from Milford, came to a controlled stop in the median of South DuPont Highway. The UPS Truck, driven by a 37-year-old male from Dover, DE was forced off the highway into a ditch. The Ford Flex, operated by a 44-year-old female from Kenton, and the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado came to an uncontrolled stop in the left travel lane of South DuPont Highway.

The 44-year-old operator of the Ford Flex, identified as Catina Isaacs, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The 29-year-old operator of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado and the 37-year-old operator of the UPS truck were transported to the Bayhealth Kent General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The drivers of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford Flex were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision. Impairment does not appear to be a factor on behalf of any of the drivers involved.

US 13, in the area of Long Acre Drive was closed for approximately 4.5 hours while the investigation was completed and the roadway was cleared.

 

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