Just after 10:00, Saturday evening rescue crews from the Ellendale Volunteer Fire Company were dispatched to the area 12847 Dupont Blvd. in Ellendale for a rollover crash with injuries.
While en route crews learned that they had three patients trapped. First arriving confirmed that the three patients were trapped. As crews worked to extricate the patients, Command declared a Level 1 Mass Casualty Incident, which brought additional crews from several areas companies and Sussex County Medics. Iniatal reports from the scene indicated that one person had succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Delaware State Police Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Jason Hatchell confirmed Sunday morning that the accident was a fatal crash.
Hatchell said on July 23, 2022, at approximately 10:05 p.m., a 2007 Honda Accord, operated by a 28-year-old male of Georgetown was traveling northbound on N. Dupont Boulevard in the right lane approximately a half mile south of Beach Highway at a high rate of speed. At this time, a 2016 Ford Explorer was unoccupied and disabled on a private drive east of N. Dupont Boulevard. The operator of Accord made an aggressive lane change, from the right lane to the left lane to avoid striking a vehicle traveling in front of it and lost control, said Hatchell. The Accord began to rotate in a clockwise direction and traveled off the east edge of roadway where it struck the right side of the disabled Explorer.
The 28-year-old operator of the Accord was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. Impairment of part of the operator appears to be a factor, according to Hatchell. Toxicology results are pending at this time added Hatchell.
The 19-year-old front seat passenger of the Accord who was not restrained, was airlifted to Christiana Hospital, where he was admitted with serious injuries.
The 33-year-old rear seat passenger of the Accord, who was not restrained, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next-of-kin.
The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the collision was being investigated and cleared.