DSP News Release:  Magnolia Man Injured in Early Morning Crash

Location: Northbound US Rt. 13 at Pole Bridge Road, Middletown, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence:  Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 1:35 a.m.

Operators and Vehicles:

• Operator #1: Leroy D. Gillespie, 52, Ellendale, DE
• Vehicle #1: 2004 Peterbilt Tractor and Trailer

• Operator #2: Craig C. Flanagan, 38, Magnolia, DE
• 2004 Ford Explorer

Resume:   

Middletown, DE- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a two vehicle crash that occurred early this morning in Middletown.

The incident happened at approximately 1:35 a.m. this morning as Craig Flanagan, 38, was operating a 2004 Ford Explorer and was traveling westbound on Pole Bridge Road approaching the intersection on northbound US Rt. 13 in Middletown. Flanagan failed to stop for a red light and entered the intersection where the front of his vehicle struck the right side of a 2004 Peterbilt tractor and trailer which was traveling in the center lane of northbound US Rt. 13, and which was being operated by Leroy D. Gillespie, 52. The Ford Explorer then traveled in a northeast direction where it struck a metal guardrail before coming to rest. The tractor trailer continued traveling in a northbound direction on Rt. 13 where it then crossed the center median before jackknifing and coming to rest in the southbound left turn lane of US Rt. 13.

Craig Flanagan was removed from the scene by Delaware State Police helicopter (Trooper 4) and flown to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where he is being treated for non life threatening injuries. Leroy Gillespie was not injured. Craig Flanagan was cited by Troopers with failure to stop at a red light.

All lanes of northbound US Rt. 13 as well as several lanes of southbound US Rt. 13 were closed to traffic for several hours as the crash was investigated and cleared. It has since been reopened.

Released Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9:10 a.m.