Delaware authorities are investigating several crashes that left three dead and four others injured on Tuesday.
The first accident occurred at approximately 11:24 a.m. In that crash, a 2014 Toyota RAV4 was traveling westbound on Pulaski Highway (Route 40) in the right lane of travel. The Toyota came to a stop at the intersection of Buckley Boulevard for a red traffic signal and was the first vehicle stopped in the right lane. A 2005 Ford Freestyle was traveling westbound on Route 40 and stopped directly behind the Toyota. A 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling westbound on Route 40 in the right lane of travel approaching the intersection. The Chevrolet failed to stop, and the front of the Cobalt struck the rear of the Ford, according to police. After the initial collision, the Ford was pushed forward and struck the rear of the Toyota.
The Toyota came to a controlled stop on the right shoulder of westbound Route 40 just west of the intersection. The Ford came to an uncontrolled stop in a ditch on the north side of the roadway, approximately 200 feet west of the intersection. The Cobalt came to rest in the intersection.
The operator of the 2014 Toyota RAV4 was a 63-year-old Wilmington man who refused medical treatment at the scene.
An 84-year-old Wilmington woman was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, where she was admitted for medical attention.
A 72-year-old Elkton, Maryland man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced deceased. Identification is pending notification to next of kin.
Less than four hours after the Route 40 crash at around 3:00P, a disabled passenger vehicle was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on the Delaware-bound span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, according to a spokesman from the DRBA. The disabled vehicle – with three people inside – was pushed from the middle right lane into the far right lane and into the guardrail. Two occupants – a female driver and a male passenger in the back seat – were pronounced deceased at the scene and one (female passenger) was transported to the hospital. Only the far left lane was open to traffic.
Salem County Prosecutor’s Accident Reconstruction Team responded to assist with the accident reconstruction. Three lanes were closed from 3:00 to 7:30 with only the far left lane open. A second lane was reopened at 7:30 pm. The accident scene was cleared at 9:20 and all southbound lanes were open to traffic.
The third deadly crash occurred just before 5:30 in Newark. Officials said a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000 was traveling on Otts Chapel Road in the left lane approaching North Hunter Forge Road. The operator lost control of the motorcycle and began to travel to the right side of the roadway. The Suzuki then went down on its left side and slid into the concrete curb located on the northeast corner of the Otts Chapel Road and North Hunger Forge Road intersection. The operator came to rest in the left lane of Otts Chapel Road. After the motorcycle struck the curb, it hit a guardrail and was launched into the air before coming to rest approximately 100 feet north of the impact.
The operator, a 21-year-old Dover man, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification is pending notification to next of kin.
In addition to the crashes mentioned above, there were accidents that sent at least two others to the hospital.