Greenwood– The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Saturday evening, according to Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Heather Pepper.
Pepper said the incident occurred on November 9, 2019, at approximately 5:59 p.m., when a 2011 Kia Rio was traveling southbound on Sussex Highway (US 13), and had stopped in the cross over at the intersection of Woodyard Road, intending to turn left.
A 2003 Ford Explorer was traveling northbound on Sussex Highway approaching the intersection with Woodyard Road. For unknown reasons, the operator of the Kia failed to see the Explorer traveling northbound and pulled out directly into its path, according to Pepper. As a result, the front of the Kia struck the left rear of the Explorer. After impact, the Kia exited the intersection where it came to rest. The Explorer exited the roadway and traveled approximately 330 feet through the grass median rolling over multiple times before coming to rest upside down in the southbound lane of Sussex Highway.
The operator of the Kia, a 70-year-old female from Greenwood, DE was properly restrained and was transported to Bay Health Sussex Campus with non-life threatening injuries where she was treated and released.
The operator of the Explorer, a 33-year-old male from Camden-Wyoming, DE, who was properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld at this time pending the notification of next of kin.
The right-front passenger in the Explorer was not properly restrained and was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to Christiana Hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Sussex Highway were closed for approximately 4 hours while the crash was investigated.
The crash remains under investigation by the Collision Reconstruction Unit.