Bethany Beach – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash involving a bicyclist that occurred yesterday afternoon, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the incident occurred on October 3, 2019, at approximately 12:18 p.m., when a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Coastal Highway in the right lane and was stopped at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue for a red light. A bicyclist was stationary in the median, apparently waiting to cross over the northbound lanes of Coastal Highway. The traffic light for Coastal Highway turned green and the operator of the Cherokee accelerated, according to Jaffe. Simultaneously, the cyclist began to cross the northbound lanes in an easterly direction, reportedly within the crosswalk directly into the path of the Cherokee. As a result, the front of the bicycle and the left side of the Cherokee collided.
The bicyclist, 85-year-old Ronald W. Smith of Bethany Beach, DE was initially transported to the Beebe Medical and later transferred to the Christiana Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The operator of the Cherokee, a 70-year-old male from Seaford, DE remained at the scene and was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. Anyone that may have witnessed this incident is asked to please contact Troop 7, Sergeant Mendez of the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 302-703-3269.