***UPDATE***

Resume:

Middletown, DE- William C. Wessell, the Townsend man who was seriously injured while attempting to push his disabled on Grears Corner Road on Tuesday, December 13, has died as a result of his injuries. Wessell was pronounced dead at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14 at the Christiana Hospital where he had been admitted since the incident.

The investigation into this incident by the Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is continuing.

Released Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 4:35 p.m.

Original release below

DSP News Release:  Townsend Man Injured While Attempting to Push Vehicle

Location:

• Grears Corner Road east of Green Giant Road, Middletown, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence: 

• Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 1:15 p.m.

Operators and Vehicles:

Original Operator: William C. Wessell, 20, Townsend, DE

Second Operator: Joshua M. Blanchfield, 21, Middletown, DE

Vehicle: 2000 GMC Sonoma

Resume:   

Middletown, DE- A 20 year old man was seriously injured while attempting to push a disabled vehicle this afternoon in Middletown.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. this afternoon as William C. Wessell, 20, of Townsend, DE was operating a 2000 GMC Sonoma on Grears Corner Road, in Middletown. Wessell’s vehicle then ran out of gas and was coasting on the roadway. Wessell decided to exit the vehicle and have his passenger, Joshua Blanchfield, 21, steer the car as he attempted to push it. As Wessell jumped from the moving car, he fell backwards, striking the rear of his head on the roadway.

William Wessell was removed from the scene and flown to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where he is being treated for serious injuries. Joshua Blanchfield was not injured.

Grears Corner Road was closed as the incident was investigated. It has since been reopened.

This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.

Released Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:25 p.m.