Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Friday night in Bear, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper.
Pepper said on February 11, 2022, at approximately 6:59 p.m., a 2016 Land Rover SUV was traveling southbound on Summit Bridge Road (Route 896)in the right lane approaching Madelyn Drive. The driver, a 46-year-old man from Bear, initiated a lane change into the right turn lane for westbound Madelyn Drive. At this location, the right shoulder transitions to a bicycle lane and a right turn lane.
The bicycle lane separates the right thru lane from the right turn lane. As the Land Rover entered the right turn lane, the left front of the SUV struck a 49-year-old female pedestrian, who was walking in the area of the bicycle lane said Pepper.
After the pedestrian was struck, she came to rest in the right travel lane. A vehicle approaching in the right lane was able to swerve into the left lane to avoid striking the injured pedestrian in the roadway. A 2018 Toyota Rav 4 operated by a 73-year-old Allentown, Pennsylvania man was traveling in the right-thru lane directly behind the vehicle and could not avoid striking the victim. Both cars pulled over and remained at the collision scene after the collision.
The 49-year-old female pedestrian from Townsend was wearing dark clothing and not carrying a light said Pepper. She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification is pending notification to next of kin.
The 46-year-old Bear man operating the Land Rover SUV was not injured during the collision.
The 73-year-old Allentown man operating the Toyota Rav 4 was not injured during the collision. There were also two passengers in the Toyota who were not injured.
During the on-scene investigation, the southbound lanes of 896, between Porter Road and Denny Road, were closed to vehicular traffic for approximately 3 hours.