Newark, Delaware – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred north of Newark at the end of April.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:28 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2019, as an 87-year-old driver of Newark, was operating a 1987 Ford F150 and was traveling westbound on Paper Mill Road. For unknown reasons struck a telephone pole with the front center of the truck on Paper Mill Road east of Possum Park Road. The driver reported that he blacked out and awoke with his vehicle against the telephone pole.

The driver, Russell L. Ellis, 87 of Newark, was seatbelted during the collision and was removed from the scene by EMS to the Christiana Hospital with injuries. The driver was released from the Christiana Hospital to a nursing home on May 2, 2019.  He had a fall on May 4, 2019, and was re-admitted to the hospital where it was found that an injury he suffered in the collision was now unstable. The driver succumbed to injuries on May 20, 2019, and the death was originally ruled as natural causes. After further consideration, the cause of death was later changed to injuries from the motor vehicle collision. The notification was made at the end of June.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. Impairment was not suspected as a contributing factor in this crash.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1800 842-8461). You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@delaware.gov.

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Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz

Released: 063019 2150

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