NEWARK, Del. – Delaware State Police have identified 60-year-old Roy Childress of Middletown as the driver killed in a four-vehicle collision Saturday morning on Salem Church Road.
The crash happened around 9:45 a.m. just south of the Interstate 95 overpass after a car traveling in the wrong lane struck a northbound vehicle head-on.
Investigators say the impact triggered a chain reaction involving three other cars and left one man dead at the scene.
Chain reaction began with risky passing maneuver
Troopers determined that a yet-unidentified vehicle attempted to pass a northbound Honda Civic by moving into the southbound lane. At the same time, a Chevrolet Malibu traveling southbound encountered the oncoming vehicle and swerved to avoid it. The Malibu then overcorrected, veering back into the northbound lane and striking the Civic head-on.
The Malibu continued moving southbound, colliding with a Subaru Impreza and a Hyundai Elantra before coming to a stop. Childress, the driver of the Civic, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Malibu’s driver, a 21-year-old man from Dover, was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Impreza and Elantra drivers were not hurt.
Troopers searching for fleeing vehicle involved in crash
The unidentified vehicle that initiated the passing maneuver did not collide with any cars and fled the scene before police arrived. The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate and is asking witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. J. Jefferson at (302) 365-8484, message the Delaware State Police on Facebook, or reach Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Delaware State Police identified Roy Childress as the victim of a four-car crash caused by a dangerous passing attempt in Newark.