South Bethany- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on June 14, 2019, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said based on investigative analysis, the incident occurred on June 14, 2019, at approximately 12:57 a.m., when a 2011 Mercedes GLK 350, four-door sedan, was traveling northbound on York Road approaching Rebecca Road. York Road is a residential roadway that terminates at a canal access ramp a short distance north of Rebecca Road. A thin cable wire was strung across the entrance to the access ramp. For unknown reasons, after passing Rebecca Road, the Mercedes continued traveling northbound where it entered onto the canal access ramp, struck and ran through the cable wire, and entered into the canal. Once entering into the canal, the Mercedes sank to the bottom and was located on June 29, 2019.
The operator, identified as 70-year-old Linda Bravo of Bethany Beach was located on June 28, 2019, and pronounced deceased. She had been listed as a missing person through the Bethany Beach Police Department since her disappearance on June 14, 2019.
The Division of Forensic Science has determined that the cause of Bravo’s death was an accidental drowning.
The incident occurred within a residential community, and no roadways were closed during the investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit, said Jaffe.
Update
South Bethany, Delaware – At 5:45 last evening, Friday, June 28, 2019 rescue crews from the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company responded to a home in the 200 block of Bay Shore Drive for reports of a possible DOA.
Upon their arrival, crews confirmed that a body was in the canal behind the home. Officials said the body will be turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to determine the cause of death and the identity of the person.
Over the last couple of weeks, officials have been searching the area for a missing Bethany Beach woman, Linda Lee Bravo, who was last seen on June 13, 2019. Authorities have searched the same canal several times using air, water, and ground assets without success.
With no sign of Bravo and no real answers as to why she disappeared, the community organized a search party in recent days. The FBI also announced that it was joining the investigation.
Officials have not said if they believe the person found in the canal is Bravo, however, Bravo’s son has reportedly told other news outlets that his mother was the woman found in the canal.
Officials with the Bethany Beach Police Department, South Bethany Police, Delaware State Police, and the DNREC responded to the scene.
This is a developing story.
