DSP News Release:  Newark Man Dies in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

Location: Westbound DE Rt. 4, .2 miles west of Pride’s Crossing Drive, Newark, DE

Date of Occurrence:  Tuesday, January 4, 2010 at 6:23 a.m.

Operators/Vehicles:

Operator #1: Tabitha Bendel, 26, Bear, DE

Vehicle #1: 2009 Saturn Outlook

Operator #2: Jason Potter, 20, Newark, DE

Vehicle #2: 2000 Honda Accord

Resume:   

Newark- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a two vehicle fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred this morning in Newark.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:20 a.m. this morning as Jason Potter was operating a 2000 Honda Accord and was traveling on westbound DE Rt. 4 at an apparent high rate of speed. Potter lost control of his vehicle and entered into the center grass median where it struck a tree. The Honda continued across the median and entered the eastbound lanes of Rt. 4 where its right front end struck the left front end of a 2009 Saturn that was being operated by Tabitha Bendel of Bear, DE. The force of the impact caused Bendel’s vehicle to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and onto the shoulder where it came to rest. Tabitha Bendel, along with a 4 year old female passenger, and a 1 year old male passenger were all transported to the Christiana Hospital where they were treated and released for minor injuries.

Jason Potter’s vehicle also rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and came to rest across both eastbound lanes of DE Rt. 4. approximately .2 miles west of Pride’s Crossing Drive. Potter, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by EMS to the Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His body was turned over to the medical examiner’s office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. 

DE. Rt. 4 was closed in both directions for several hours as the accident was investigated and cleared.

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Released Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 2:10 p.m.