DOVER — In the space of six hours overnight Friday three people died on Delaware highways in three separate accidents, including a teen attempting to sprint across South DuPont Highway in Dover.
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DOVER — In the space of six hours overnight Friday three people died on Delaware highways in three separate accidents, including a teen attempting to sprint across South DuPont Highway in Dover.
Farther north in southern New Castle County, two separate accidents claimed the lives of two young people and left another in critical condition.
At about 7:58 p.m. Friday, 16-year-old Enfimus Deputy was struck by a white Chevrolet Impala as he tried to cross on foot the northbound lanes of South DuPont Highway at Evergreen Drive. The Dover teen, who was wearing dark clothing, was attempting to cross in an unlighted area where there is no crosswalk/intersection, according to Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman of the Dover Police Department.
Dover Police believe a black 1990s Ford Mustang also was involved in the accident, but left the area before police arrived.
Mr. Deputy was taken to Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips also can be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333, at www.tipsubmit.com or through Dover Police’s MyPD mobile app.
A few hours later, at 11:33 p.m., a tractor trailer traveling on U.S. 301 struck a pickup truck west of Middletown, leaving one dead and four injured.
According to Delaware State Police, a 2006 Kenworth tractor trailer, operated by Julio Gallegos, 52, of New Jersey, was traveling northbound on U.S. 301 approaching the intersection of Strawberry Lane. A 2005 Dodge Dakota, operated by John W. Kirsch, 18, of Middletown, was traveling eastbound on Strawberry Lane and proceeded from the stop sign on the west side of U.S. 301. He attempted to cross the lanes and continue eastbound.
The Dakota pulled into the path of the tractor trailer, said Sgt. Richard D. Bratz of the Delaware State Police, and its front struck the right passenger side of the Dakota in the intersection.
Both vehicles traveled in a northeasterly direction after the impact, police said. The tractor trailer rolled onto its left side before coming to a stop east of U.S. 301. The Dakota spun in a clockwise direction and came to a stop east of U.S. 301 and facing southwest.
Mr. Gallegos and his passenger, Carolina Garcia, 30 of Middletown, both of whom were wearing seat belts, suffered serious injuries. Both were transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center. As of Saturday morning, their conditions were unknown.
Mr. Kirsch, driver of the Dakota, was treated on the scene by the New Castle County paramedics for chest, possible head and upper extremity injuries, police said. He was transported to Christiana in serious condition.
The Dakota’s front passenger, a 17-year-old male of New Jersey, suffered life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Christiana, where he died from his injuries.
A 17-year-old female, a rear-seat passenger of the Dakota, was treated on scene by the paramedics for head and facial injuries. She was flown, with the paramedics from the Delaware State Police and New Castle County, by the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit to Christiana with life-threatening injuries. She was listed in critical condition, as of Saturday morning.
Firefighters on the scene had to manually extract all three teens from the Dakota.
The intersection of U.S. 301 at Strawberry Lane was closed for about four hours while the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the accident.
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit also is investigating an early Saturday morning crash west of Townsend that claimed the life of a Middletown woman.
The initial investigation has determined that the crash occurred at about 2:01 a.m. Saturday as Gabriela J. Beduch, 21, operated a 2004 Acura RSX westbound on Caldwell Corner Road and attempted to negotiate a slight right curve. The Acura RSX exited the north side of the roadway and traveled through the grass on the side of the road, according to Sgt. Bratz.
Police believe Ms. Beduch overcorrected as she re-entered the roadway, initiating a counterclockwise rotation. The vehicle slid sideways through the grass on the south edge of the road before striking a utility pole with its left side.
Police said the Acura rolled onto its roof after hitting the pole.
Ms. Beduch, whom police said was not properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor, according to police.
Caldwell Corner Road in the area of the crash was closed for about 4½ hours.