Pennsylvania man dies in Ellendale crash

A Pennsylvania man died Oct. 13, after colliding with a tractor trailer on Route 113 near Ellendale.

The crash happened at 4:41 p.m. when a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia pulling a Dorsey flatbed trailer was traveling southbound in the right lane of Route 113 south of VFW Road, and it had slowed down to turn right onto a private driveway, said Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto of the Delaware State Police. At the same time, DeMalto said, a 2018 Kia Sportage was traveling southbound on Route 113 approaching the tractor-trailer when for unknown reasons, the driver of the Kia tried to avoid hitting the trailer by swerving right onto shoulder of Route 113. As he swerved, DeMalto said, the Kia collided with the rear right axle of the trailer.

Both vehicles came to a stop at the scene. The Kia driver, a 75-year-old man from Hamburg, Pa., was properly restrained and was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin. The driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 38-year-old woman from Laurel, was also properly restrained and did not report any injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in this incident. The roadway was closed for about five hours while the collision was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed this collision to call Corporal J. Smith at 302-703-3267. Information may also be provided through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or at delawarecrimestoppers.com.