DSP News Release:  Motorcyclist Dies in I-495 Crash

Location: Northbound I-495 approximately .9 miles north of 12^th Street on-ramp, Wilmington, DE

Date of Occurrence:  Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 9:30 p.m.

Operators/Vehicles:

Operator #1: William Forrest, 41, Middletown, DE

Vehicle #1: 2006 Ford Mustang

Operator #2: 44 year old Blackwood, NJ man

Vehicle #2: 2008 Honda Goldwing motorcycle

Operator #3: Greg Baxter, 50, Lindenberg, NJ

Vehicle #3: 2001 Suzuki 650 motorcycle

Operator #4: Marie Solum, 35, Wilmington, DE

Vehicle #4: 2006 Toyota Sequoia

Operator #5: Felton Mills, 37, New Castle, DE

Vehicle #5: 2006 International 4300 Tractor

Victim: 44 year old Blackwood, NJ man

Resume:   

Wilmington- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a five vehicle crash in which a New Jersey man was killed that occurred last night in Wilmington.

The exact details of this crash are still under investigation at this point. The initial investigation has revealed that the crash occurred at 9:30 p.m. last night as William Forrest, 41, was operating a 2006 Ford Mustang and was traveling northbound on I-495 in the right hand lane. It is believed that the front of a 2008 Honda Goldwing motorcycle that was being operated by a 44 year old Blackwood, NJ man, then struck the rear of the Ford Mustang, causing the operator to be ejected into the roadway. A 2001 Suzuki 650 motorcycle, which was being operated by Greg Baxter of Lindenberg, NJ, then struck the rear of the Honda Goldwing. William Forrest then swerved his vehicle to the right, where it entered onto the shoulder and struck a concrete barrier before coming to rest. The Honda Goldwing as well as the 2001 Suzuki with Greg Baxter still operating it came to rest further north of the crash scene. The 44 year old victim (lying in the roadway) was then struck by a 2006 Toyota Sequoia that was being operated by Marie Solum, 35, as well as by a 2006 International Tractor that was being operated by Felton Mills, 37. Both Solum and Mills stopped at the scene.

The 44 year old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was then turned over to the Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. The victim’s name is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Michael Goodson and Greg Baxter were both removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital where they were treated for their non life-threatening injuries.

I-495 northbound was closed for several hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

This crash remains under investigation and the exact sequence of events is still being determined at this time.

Released Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 7:00 a.m.