Hartly women dies in Townsend collision
By This story has been updated
TOWNSEND — A 23-year-Hartly woman died in a vehicle collision Saturday, Delaware State Police spokesman Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said.
At approximately 5:37 p.m., a blue 2019 Ram ProMaster delivery van was traveling west on Harvey Straughn Road, east of Black Stallion Road, he said. At the same time, a red 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling east on Harvey Straughn Road, west of Vandyke Greenspring Road.
The van began turning left onto a residential driveway, crossing into the path of the motorcycle, Cpl. DeMalto said. The motorcyclist tried to brake to avoid the crash but was unable to do so and collided with the right side of the van.
The driver of the motorcycle, a 20-year-old man from Dover, was flown by state police helicopter to an area hospital with critical injuries.
The passenger on the motorcycle, who police identified Monday as Chelsea Smith, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the van, a 23-year-old woman from Wilmington, was not injured.
The road was closed for approximately four hours, while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate and asks witnesses to contact Master Cpl. J. Forester at 302-365-8485, send a message via the state police Facebook page or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.
