The Delaware State Police are investigating a serious crash that occurred late last night in Rehoboth Beach.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:54 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019, as a 2018 Kenworth T880 tractor-trailer tanker, operated by a 48-year-old Georgetown man was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway, in the right travel lane approaching the intersection of Miller Road.
The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal which was green for southbound traffic. A 2000 Ford Ranger pickup, operated by a 63-year-old man of Lewes, was traveling eastbound on Miller Road and stopped for a red traffic signal located at the intersection of Coastal Highway. For unknown reasons, the operator of the Ford Ranger pickup entered into the intersection directly into the path of the tractor-trailer, said Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz.
The operator of the tractor-trailer was unable to avoid a collision and the front bumper of the truck impacted the left side of the pickup truck in the right travel lane of southbound Coastal Highway. After impact, the Ford Ranger pickup truck traveled in a southwesterly direction, while rotating clockwise where it exited the roadway and came to an uncontrolled stop partially on the sidewalk along the west edge of the highway. Following the impact, the operator of the tractor-trailer pulled his vehicle onto the shoulder of southbound Coastal Highway and came to a controlled stop.
Alcohol and or drugs are not a factor on behalf of the tractor-trailer operator and there is no indication that the operator of the Ford Ranger pickup was impaired by alcohol or drugs.
The operator of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
The driver of the Ford Ranger pickup was transported to Beebe Medical Center where he was treated for serious injuries and was later transported to Christiana Hospital.
Two southbound lanes of Coastal Highway were closed for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated and cleared. One lane remained open.
