NEW CASTLE, DE – A 65-year-old man fell asleep while driving a U-Haul trailer with his Honda Pilot southbound along Route 13 near I-295, the Delaware State Police said. The crash occurred on Wednesday, at approximately 2:09 a.m.
“The operator a 65-year-old male of Seaford, DE fell asleep at the wheel and drifted out of the right lane of travel and into the right shoulder,” police reported. “The right front tire struck a raised curb in the 500 block of North DuPont Highway for first impact. Following that impact, the Honda rotated counterclockwise until its passenger side struck a large steel support for an overhead roadway sign. The second impact caused the Honda to rotate clockwise in a northerly direction, eventually rolling over into its roof. The Honda slid a short distance on its roof before coming to rest partially within the right shoulder and right lane of travel.”
Accoring to police, the operator and his front-seat passenger were wearing their seatbelts. Both were transported by ambulance to an area hospital where the operator was admitted for non-life-threatening injuries. The front seat passenger, a 60-year-old female of Seaord, DE, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital and was pronounced deceased. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next-of-kin.
Southbound lanes of Route 13 were restricted to just the left lane for approximately 3 hours while the investigation was completed, and the roadway was cleared.