The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a tractor and a school bus that occurred Monday morning in New Castle, that left one man dead.
Officials said on September 16, 2024, at approximately 8:18 a.m., a Blue Bird school bus was traveling in the left lane of South Dupont Highway northbound, south of Federal School Lane in New Castle. At the same time, a John Deere tractor was traveling on the right shoulder of South Dupont Highway northbound, south of Federal School Lane. The preliminary investigation showed that the tractor entered the school bus’s path of travel as it made a left turn from the shoulder and attempted to cross the northbound lanes of South Dupont Highway towards a crossover police said Tuesday. As a result, the school bus struck the tractor, and the tractor’s operator was ejected.
The operator of the tractor, 85-year-old Wayne Proud of New Castle, was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the school bus, a 55-year-old woman from New Castle, Delaware, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. A 56-year-old female passenger on the school bus was also taken by ambulance to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The school bus was transporting 7 George Read Middle School students, all of whom were seat belted, and were not injured.
The roadway was closed for approximately 3 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.