Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a tractor-trailer that occurred in the Ellendale area last night, according to Senior Corporal Leonard DeMalto.
DeMalto said On October 13, 2022, at approximately 7:41 p.m., a white 2015 Freightliner Cascadia pulling a Dorsey flatbed trailer was traveling southbound in the right lane of Dupont Boulevard south of VFW Road in Ellendale. At the same time, a blue 2018 Kia Sportage was also traveling southbound on Dupont Boulevard south of VFW Road, approaching the tractor-trailer. The Freightliner had begun to slow down and was turning right onto a private drive. For unknown reasons, the operator of the Kia swerved to his right into the shoulder of Dupont Boulevard to try to avoid striking the trailer, but as he did so the front left of the Kia collided with the rear right axle of the trailer.
Both vehicles came to a stop at the scene. The driver of the Sportage, a 75-year-old man from Hamburg, Pennsylvania, was properly restrained and was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin. The driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 38-year-old woman from Laurel, Delaware, was also properly restrained and did not report any injuries.
No other vehicles were involved in this incident. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours while the collision was investigated and cleared.