New Castle – The Delaware State Police are investigating a serious pedestrian crash that occurred on US13 yesterday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 5:28 p.m. Friday November 17, 2017 in the area of South DuPont Parkway (US13) southbound and Old State Road when a 35-year-old male was attempting to cross US13 from west to east.  A 2006 Ford Explorer being operated by a 58-year-old male was southbound on US13 in the left lane and was unable to see the pedestrian and struck him with the front of the vehicle.  The Explorer was able to come to a controlled stop after the collision.

The 35-year-old male pedestrian from the New Castle area was wearing dark-colored clothing and not carrying a flashlight, was treated on the scene by New Castle County Paramedics and transported to Christiana Medical Center where he was admitted in critical condition.

The 58-year-old male operator of the Explorer, from the New Castle area, was properly restrained and uninjured in the crash.

Traffic on the southbound lanes of US13 were impacted for two hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

“Troopers remind pedestrians to use caution and safety when walking on or near roadways. If you must cross a roadway utilize appropriate cross walks and make sure to look left, then right, then left again before proceeding.  When walking near a roadway always make yourself visible to drivers by wearing bright/light-colored clothing and reflective materials.  Pedestrians that are walking at night must carry a flashlight for added safety.”

Tips for pedestrians:

• Wear reflective clothing, a blinking light or use your cell phone’s flashlight.
• Use a cross walk.
• Be focused. Be aware of your surroundings and not distracted with your cell phone.
• Walk on the sidewalk when available, not the shoulder. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach you to make sure you are seen.
• Never walk under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Tips for drivers:

•  Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a cross walk.
• Yield to pedestrians in cross walks. Never pass vehicles stopped at a cross walk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see.
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Pedestrian safety information to educate and share can be found at http://www.ohs.delaware.gov/pedestrian.shtml. For more information on pedestrian safety visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Pedestrians.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 111817 1700

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