On October 28, 2023, at approximately 3:19 a.m., a fatal single-vehicle crash occurred on Blackbird Landing Road in Townsend leaving one man dead.
The vehicle involved was a black 2019 Chrysler 300, which was traveling westbound on Blackbird Landing Road, east of State Route 13. Officials said according to preliminary reports, the Chrysler was moving at an apparent high rate of speed and failed to maintain its lane.
The vehicle subsequently traveled off the roadway and collided with a dirt berm in a grassy drainage ditch. It continued to move westbound in the ditch and struck a utility pole. Following this, the Chrysler hit the driveway culvert of a residence and went airborne, colliding with a second utility pole. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the drainage ditch west of the second utility pole and became fully engulfed in flames.
Emergency services, including rescue crews from the Townsend and Odessa Fire Companies, New Castle County Paramedics, and Delaware State Police Aviation’s Trooper 4, arrived at the scene to find the vehicle in flames and downed electrical wires.
The driver of the Chrysler, identified as 21-year-old Joshua Lysinger of Middletown, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Traffic on Blackbird Landing Road was affected for several hours as investigators and emergency crews worked to investigate and clear the accident. Delmarva Power was also called to the scene to manage the electrical hazards.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.