Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving three vehicles that occurred early Saturday morning in New Castle, leading to the closure of I-95 southbound for several hours.
Officials said at approximately 4:18 a.m., a 45-year-old man from Bear was driving a Hyundai Tucson southbound on I-95 in the right center lane near Churchmans Marsh. Simultaneously, a 29-year-old man from New Castle, Delaware, was driving a Kia Forte in the adjacent right lane. A 61-year-old man from Mineral Point, Wisconsin, had pulled his Freightliner bucket truck onto the right shoulder of I-95 to inspect his vehicle.
According to preliminary investigations, the Kia Forte entered the right shoulder for unknown reasons and collided with the stationary bucket truck, which was still occupied by its driver. The impact caused the Kia to ricochet into the center lane, where it struck the Hyundai Tucson. The driver of the Kia, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene according to police. His identity has not yet been released pending notification of his family.
The driver of the Hyundai Tucson was not injured. The driver of the bucket truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The crash investigation caused the closure of all southbound lanes of I-95 near Route 141 for approximately three hours.