Teen driver killed in crash with tractor-trailer in bear — Yellow law enforcement tape isolating crime scene. Blurred view of city, toned in red and blue police car lights

Teen pronounced dead at scene after Bear intersection crash

Bear, DE — A 17-year-old from Newark was killed late Sunday night after his car crashed into a tractor-trailer that was making a turn in Bear, according to Delaware State Police.

The deadly collision occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. on December 7 near the intersection of East Songsmith Drive and Bear Christiana Road. Troopers say a tractor-trailer pulling an empty car-hauler was turning left from East Songsmith Drive onto southbound Bear Christiana Road when a Ford Focus, heading northbound, struck the trailer mid-turn.

Investigators determined that the tractor-trailer had not fully cleared the intersection when the Ford Focus continued northbound and collided with the car-hauler portion of the truck.

The 17-year-old driver of the Focus was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not yet been released pending notification of his family.

The 43-year-old New Castle man driving the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.

The roadway was shut down for roughly three and a half hours overnight while the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit processed the scene and cleared the wreckage.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the crash. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the collision is urged to contact Master Corporal R. Kunicki at (302) 365-8417 or reach out to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

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Key Points

A 17-year-old driver from Newark was killed in a crash with a turning tractor-trailer
The collision occurred late Sunday night on Bear Christiana Road
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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