Troopers Identify 18-Year-Old Killed In Crash Thursday Night

The Delaware State Police have identified the victim who died in a single-vehicle fatal accident that occurred in New Castle on March 2, 2023, as Jose Cruz-Castrejon, 18, of New Castle, Delaware.

Original Story

Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal single motor vehicle collision that occurred in the New Castle area last night.

Troopers said on March 2, 2023, at approximately 9:17 p.m., a 2005 Ford Mustang was traveling northbound on Route 9 approaching Federal School Lane.  The 18-year-old male operator from New Castle, lost control of the vehicle and it began to rotate clockwise skidding in a northeasterly direction across the southbound lane, back across the northbound lane, and then across the right shoulder.

The driver-side tires of the Ford struck a raised concrete curb located at the entrance to a business on the 1300 block of River Road.  The curb strike caused the Ford to roll over and go airborne into a heavily wooded area where it eventually came to rest on all four tires. The Ford then caught fire.

The front-seat passenger who was wearing his seatbelt was able to exit the vehicle. He was not injured during the crash. Officials said the operator who was not properly restrained was unable to exit the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin.

Route 9 between Hamburg Road and Federal School Lane was closed for approximately 4 hours while the crash was investigated and the roadway was cleared.

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