Dover woman charged with vehicular homicide after deadly crash on North DuPont Highway
NEW CASTLE, DE — A 36-year-old woman from Dover has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide following a two-vehicle crash early Saturday that left one passenger dead on North DuPont Highway near Christiana Road.
The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on November 15, when a Lexus ES 350, driven by Ashley Wright, collided with the rear of a Kenworth tractor trailer that was traveling southbound in the left middle lane. According to Delaware State Police, the Lexus failed to slow down before striking the rear left of the trailer.
The impact caused the Lexus to spin out of control, cross over a raised concrete median, and strike a traffic sign. A 36-year-old female passenger from New Castle, who was inside the Lexus at the time, was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not yet been released, pending next-of-kin notification.
Ashley Wright was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said she showed signs of impairment and was arrested following her release from medical care. The driver of the tractor trailer, a 32-year-old man from Delaware City, was not injured in the crash.
Following her release from the hospital, Wright was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where she was formally charged. She was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $10,102 secured cash bond.
The southbound lanes of North DuPont Highway were closed for approximately six hours while investigators processed the scene.