Driver Ejected After Striking Pole, Hundreds Without Power In Smyrna

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 1:29 PM, a traffic collision occurred in the area of 285 Hillyard Road in Smyrna, Delaware.

The accident was of high mechanism, involving a rollover crash with ejection, and initial reports indicate that one individual sustained critical injuries.

According to callers’ reports, the collision involved a vehicle that rolled three times before colliding with a utility pole. The impact was so severe that it split the utility pole in half, leading to an alert being sent to the utility company. In response, authorities closed the road to secure the scene.

Upon receiving the 911 calls, Kent County Paramedics and ambulance crews rushed to the location. Shortly after their arrival, Command requested an estimated time of arrival (ETA) for Delaware State Police Aviation’s Trooper 4, a medically equipped helicopter designed for transporting injured patients.

Trooper 4 confirmed that they were approximately seven minutes away from the scene. Due to the seriousness of the patient’s condition, Command made the decision to utilize the helicopter for rapid transport to the trauma center in New Castle County.

Around 2:00 PM, emergency crews reported that the patient’s condition was critical and that they were en route to the hospital by air.

As of now, crews are still at the scene, and the road remains closed. Utility crews are working on repairing the damaged pole. The impact of the collision may have caused the power outages in the area, affecting over 500 residents according to Delaware CO-OP. The current temperature in Smyrna is 92 degrees.

Authorities are also conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the collision and further details will be released as they become available.