A driver is facing charges after the death of her passenger near the Wilmington Airport in New Castle, Delaware on Saturday. According to Delaware State Police, the driver, in a Lexus ES 350, was following a Kenworth tractor trailer southbound on North DuPont Highway as it slowed to turn onto Christiana Road.
Investigators said the Lexus driver failed to slow and crashed into the back of the truck. The impact caused the Lexus to spin, slide over the concrete median and crash into a traffic sign. A passenger in the Lexus was ejected during the crash and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The truck driver was not injured, police said.
Police have charged the Lexus driver with vehicular homicide and other related offenses and said she showed signs of impairment at the time of the accident. She was arraigned and released on a $10,000 cash bond.
Delaware State Police continue to investigate the crash and have asked anyone with related information to contact Corporal K. Oakes at 302-365-8483 or call Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Rear-end collisions involving tractor trailers are among the most dangerous types of crashes on Delaware highways. The height and weight of commercial trucks can cause smaller vehicles to underride the trailer during impact, resulting in severe or fatal injuries. Even at moderate speeds, these collisions generate tremendous force, often ejecting occupants or causing vehicles to spin into secondary impacts. Drivers should always maintain a safe following distance and adjust speed when approaching slowing or stopped traffic, particularly around large trucks. McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC is a full-service personal injury law firm. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, call us today at 302-888-1221 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, we proudly serve clients throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania.