Edgemoor – Just before 12:00 this morning rescue crews along with New Castle County Paramedics responded I-495 NB at the Edgemoor underpass for a motor vehicle accident with one vehicle reported on fire.
First arriving crews confirmed one vehicle off the road and on fire with the driver trapped and a second vehicle in the center lane.
The crash occurred on May 10, 2020, at approximately 11:51 p.m., when a blue Toyota passenger vehicle was traveling northbound on DE-495 in the center lane approximately 1 mile south of Edgemoor Road. A 2016 Dodge Challenger, operated by a 45-year-old Wilmington man, was also traveling northbound DE-495 in the center lane, rapidly approaching the Toyota, according to State Police spokeswoman Senior Corporal Heather Pepper.
Pepper said the Dodge Challenger failed to maneuver around the Toyota, and the front bumper of the Dodge Challenger struck the rear bumper of the Toyota, which caused the gas tank of the Toyota to rupture. After impact, the Toyota continued out of control, exited the northbound lanes and down the embankment as it was engulfed in flames.
Once the vehicle came to rest, the male operator and only occupant in the vehicle, became entrapped within the burning vehicle. The operator of the Toyota was pronounced deceased at the scene. At this time, very little is known about the operator and the vehicle due to the extensive fire damage.
Following the initial impact, the Dodge Charger continued out of control for over 1,000 feet before the vehicle came to rest in the center lane. The operator was treated at the collision scene for minor injuries.
Trooper 4, originally dispatched to the crash was not utilized for transport, however, medics asked the crew to use the FLIR to search the area for additional patients. None were found.
The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit. If anyone has information relating to the owner of a blue Toyota 4-door passenger vehicle, which displays a vanity tag located in the front of the vehicle with the following information “Raymond 9-18-66 – 01-30-08”, please contact Sgt. D. Alexander at DSP/ Troop 2 (302) [email protected].
