Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian that occurred in the Newark area last night.
Police said on April 13, 2023, at approximately 10:09 p.m., a 2007 Ford Taurus was traveling northbound on Ott’s Chapel Road north of Oklahoma State Drive. At the time, a pedestrian had entered the northbound lanes of Ott’s Chapel Road from an unknown location. The Taurus was unable to avoid the pedestrian and the front of the vehicle struck the pedestrian in the right northbound lane. After the initial collision, a 2016 Jeep Cherokee that was traveling behind the Taurus struck the pedestrian with the undercarriage of the vehicle. Both vehicles came to a controlled stop near the collision scene.
At the time of the collision, the area was dark and not well-lit. The pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and was not carrying any type of flashlight or lighting device police said Friday. The 38-year-old male pedestrian from Newark, DE was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin.
The 24-year-old male operator of the Ford was not injured.
The 24-year-old male operator of the Jeep was not injured.
Northbound Ott’s Chapel Road was closed between West Chestnut Hill Road and North Hunter Forge Road for approximately 4 hours while the crash was investigated, and the roadway cleared.