Thursday, October 29, 2026 63°F Partly cloudy · Wilmington DELAWARE NEWS • FIRST STATE UPDATE
First State Update / Sussex County

Troopers ID Woman Killed In Friday Accident

October 29, 2026 · By First State Update News Room
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The Delaware State Police is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Friday night on Long Neck Road.

On October 23, 2026, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a Jeep Compass was traveling northbound on Long Neck Road south of Pot Nets Road. At the same time a Hyundai Tucson was traveling southbound, in the northbound lane with no headlights on, on Long Neck Road south of Pot Nets Road. The investigation revealed that the Jeep attempted to avoid the Hyundai, but both vehicles struck head-on.

The driver of the Hyundai, 72-year-old Deborah Pettyjohn, from Millsboro, Delaware, was flown to an area hospital with serious injuries. On October 25, 2026, she died from her injuries.

The driver of the Jeep, a 53-year-old man from Millsboro, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Long Neck Road was closed for an extended time while the scene was investigated and cleared.

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