Newark – The Delaware State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer that resulted in one fatality as well as multiple other victims being hospitalized with various injuries, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said the incident occurred at approximately 4:46 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2019, on I-95 southbound approximately .5 miles north of DE Rt. 72. A 2008 Toyota Highlander, operated by a 45-year-old Middletown man, was traveling I-95 southbound in the right lane and was slowing to a stop in a line of congested traffic.
A 2015 Honda CRV, operated by a 49-year-old Newark woman, was slowing to a stop directly behind the Toyota. A 2014 Nissan Sentra, operated by a 61-year-old Middletown man, was slowing to a stop directly behind the Honda. A 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer, operated by a 39-year-old Fairmont, North Carolina man, was traveling I-95 southbound in the right lane, directly behind the Nissan.
The tractor-trailer failed to stop and in turn rear-ended the Nissan, forcing it across all southbound lanes, where it came to rest in the far left southbound lane of travel, said Austin. The tractor-trailer then struck the Honda and then the Toyota, forcing both vehicles off the right side of the road and down an embankment. After impacting the three vehicles the tractor-trailer veered to the left and overturned onto its right side, broke through a guardrail and then overturned further, with its wheels up, finally coming to rest partially in the center grass median and partially in the left thru lane of northbound I-95.
The 61-year-old male driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification of next of kin.
The 49-year-old female driver of the Honda was transported to the Christiana Hospital with serious injuries. A child in the Honda was hospitalized in critical condition.
The 45-year-old male driver of the Toyota and the 39-year-old male driver of the Kenworth sustained non-life threatening injuries.
I-95 southbound was completely closed for approximately 7.5 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Sgt. D. Alexander of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit by calling 302-365-8484.
Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
Initial Report
At approximately 4:59this afternoon, New Castle County Paramedics, along with rescue crews from Aetna Fire Company, Christiana Fire Company, Belvedere Fire Company, Delaware State Police Aviation, and Christiana Care Aviation responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle collision involving an overturned tractor-trailer.
Upon arrival, New Castle County Paramedics found multiple patients requiring advanced life support, according to Paramedic Senior Corporal Ruoy L. Koontz. New Castle County Paramedics treated a total of three patients. Patient one was an adult aged male pronounced dead on the scene.
Patient two was an adult aged female treated on scene for significant body-wide injuries and later transported via an Aetna Fire Company ambulance in critical condition to Christiana Hospital.
Patient three was a pediatric patient found in cardiac arrest, treated and transported via an Aetna Fire Company ambulance to Christiana Hospital in critical condition. The two patients transported to Christiana Hospital were accompanied by paramedics from New Castle County.
Exclusive photos courtesy First State Update Contributor Dennis Smith.
