Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving two work trucks that occurred in the Smyrna area yesterday morning.

On April 26, 2023, at approximately 11:43 a.m., a 2021 International Box Truck was northbound on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway (Route 1) in the right lane north of Exit 114. At the time, a 2018 International Flatbed Truck was stopped on the northbound right shoulder of Route 1 north of Exit 114.  The operator of the stopped flatbed truck was outside of the vehicle when the operator of the box truck fell asleep and drifted off the east edge of the roadway.  The front of the box truck struck the left rear of the flatbed truck. The operator of the flatbed truck was also struck during the collision. The box truck then swerved to the left traveling across both northbound lanes of Route 1 and off the west edge of the roadway, where it struck a guardrail with its left front bumper and into the grass median.

The operator of the box truck, a 24-year-old male from Ranson, WV was transported to an area hospital for minor injuries. There was a 57-year-old male front-seat passenger from Baltimore, MD in the box truck who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin.

The operator of the flatbed truck, a 60-year-old male from Somerset, NJ was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

Northbound Route 1 was closed for approximately four and a half hours while the collision was investigated, and the roadway was cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Master Corporal J. Lane by calling 302-698-8457. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need 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 at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Jason Hatchell

Released: 042723  0938

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