Troopers have updated the story FSU told you about earlier this morning involving a fatal incident at the C & D Canal on Sunday.
Delaware State Police are currently investigating a fatal crash involving a single vehicle that occurred at the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in Delaware City late Sunday,
The incident took place at around 11:45 p.m., when a red 2014 Chrysler 300, traveling westbound on a gravel road on North Canal Road near the Reedy Point Bridge, veered off the path for undetermined reasons. The vehicle ended up on the rocky banks of the canal before crashing into the water and becoming submerged police said.
The driver, a 60-year-old man from Elkton, Maryland, was found deceased at the scene. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene following calls about a vehicle that had entered the water. A search and rescue operation was initiated, with the focus being on a debris field located on the north side of the canal, roughly half a mile west of the Reedy Point Bridge. Dive teams and marine units, supported by Delaware State Police Aviation’s Trooper 4, were involved in the search. The operation also employed sonar technology to locate potential victims or debris.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called to assist, arriving at the scene just before 1:15 a.m. to support the ongoing efforts. Shortly after their arrival, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the rescue teams managed to locate the victim. He was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
Delaware City Fire Company press release “On Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 11:45 pm, Delaware City and Port Penn Fire Companies along with Rescue Boats from Delaware City, Port Penn, and Goodwill, the New Castle County Surface Water Rescue Team, New Castle County Dive Team, Delaware State Police Aviation, and New Castle Paramedics were dispatched to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in the area of the Reedy Point Bridge for a sinking vehicle with entrapment. Fire department personnel arrived to find a vehicle completely submerged in the canal with a debris field present. Rescue swimmers entered the water but were unable to access the vehicle due to the depth. The vehicle’s location was confirmed with sonar from Fireboat 15 at a depth of approximately 12 feet and once dive team personnel arrived, rescue divers were deployed. Battling near-zero visibility and a strong current, the divers located the vehicle and removed a single occupant. The occupant was brought to shore where EMTs and Paramedics attempted lifesaving interventions. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the patient was eventually pronounced deceased on scene. The United States Coast Guard also responded to the incident. Delaware State Police are investigating the incident and Port Penn Fire Chief John Newman had Delaware City Command.”