The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m., Thursday, December 20, 2018, on I-95 southbound, north of I-295.
The initial investigation has determined that multiple vehicles belonging to a work crew conducting a demolition project, were parked on the right shoulder of southbound I-95, north of I-295, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin. This work project did not entail any lane closures however there were warning signs present alerting motorists that the shoulder was closed.
The vehicles involved in the project were an unoccupied Hino 330 crash truck with an impact attenuator which was parked on the right shoulder of southbound I-95, north of I-295. A 2005 Hyundai Tucson, occupied by a 44-year-old Whiteford, Maryland woman, who was a safety inspector for the project, was parked on the right shoulder, directly in front of the crash truck. Directly in front of the Hyundai was a 2015 Ford F-750 dump truck, occupied by a 50-year-old Macungie, Pennsylvania man, which had an attached trailer, loaded with an excavator. Also part of the work crew was a 24-year-old Folsom, New Jersey man who was standing on the shoulder behind the trailer.
A 2008 Nissan X-Terra, operated by a 31-year-old Newark man was traveling I-95 southbound approaching the construction project when for an undetermined reason it drifted off the right side of the roadway, striking the front left side of the crash truck. The Nissan continued forward with its right side striking the left side of the Hyundai. After impacting the Hyundai, the Nissan continued forward striking the pedestrian worker, knocking him to the ground. After striking the pedestrian at the front end of the Nissan struck the rear of the trailer, where it came to a stop.
A 32-year-old Newark woman who was an unrestrained front seat passenger in the Nissan, was transported to the Christiana Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. Identification is pending notification of next of kin.
The operator of the Nissan who was also not properly restrained was transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Impairment on his behalf is undetermined at this time, said Austin.
The pedestrian worker was transported to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The occupants of the Hyundai and the Ford dump truck were not injured.
Southbound I-95 was closed for approximately 2.5 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident are asked to call Cpl. J. Forester of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit at 302-365-8485.
Breaking Report
New Castle – At 10:52 this morning, Thursday, December 20, 2018, rescue crews from the Minquas Fire Company, along with crews from the Christiana, Miquadale and Five Points Fire Company’s, New Castle County Paramedics and Delaware State Police responded to I-95 SB just north of the I-295 off-ramp for a vehicle crash with entrapment.
Early indications are that a sports utility vehicle slammed into equipment being used by road crews on the side of the highway.
Within minutes of their arrival crews were able to extricate three patients to area hospitals.
One of the patients was transported to the Trauma Center at Christiana Hospital in serious condition.
Two other patients were also transported to the hospital. Their conditions are not known at this time.
The road was closed for approximately three hours while Troopers investigated and cleared the scene.
At about 2:20 this afternoon all lanes were reopened.
Responing Crews
ALS30 M1D M2D N178 N204 N223 N226 NA12 NA17 NB12 NL18 NR23 NSQD17 PA100 PA2 STA17 STA22
