Deadly curve on Butterpat Road ends in fatal crash
Hartly, DE – A pickup truck veered off a rural roadway and left its driver dead Sunday night after failing to navigate a curve, leading to a chain of events that ended with the vehicle in a field and the driver ejected.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Butterpat Road south of Bear Pond Road, according to Delaware State Police.
Investigators said a Ford F-350 was traveling northbound when it failed to negotiate a curve. The driver then overcorrected, and because he was not restrained, he was ejected from the vehicle.
Authorities indicated the driver’s door may not have been properly secured at the time of the crash.
After the driver was ejected, the truck continued moving northbound without anyone inside before coming to rest in a nearby field.
The driver, a 31-year-old man from Hartly, was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released pending notification of family members.
The roadway remained closed for approximately four hours while investigators processed the scene and cleared the wreckage.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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Key Points
- 31-year-old Hartly man killed after being ejected from pickup truck
- Crash occurred when vehicle failed to navigate curve on Butterpat Road
- Investigation ongoing by Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit
