A 19-year-old man from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, died Thursday night after he tried to run across the northbound lanes of I-95 near Frawley Stadium in Wilmington and was struck by a pickup truck. Drivers had already called 911 to report a man walking along the highway before the crash unfolded, and the incident shut down a stretch of the interstate for hours.
According to firststateupdate.com, Delaware State Police troopers responded to the scene at approximately 8:15 p.m. Thursday after 911 dispatchers received several calls about a man walking along I-95. Troopers arrived to find that the pedestrian had attempted to run across the northbound lanes, where he was struck by a GMC Canyon pickup truck. He was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.
The driver of the GMC Canyon was identified as a 59-year-old man from Wilmington who was not injured in the crash, the outlet reported. The teenager's name has not been released; authorities said it is being withheld until his family is notified, per the same report. Delawareonline.com reported that drivers had called 911 to flag the man walking along the roadway before he was struck.
Highway Shut Down for Hours During Investigation
The crash forced a lengthy closure on one of the region's busiest highways. A portion of I-95 was closed for about three hours due to the crash and the resulting investigation, according to WDEL. The station reported that Delaware State Police are investigating the pedestrian fatality on I-95 northbound near Frawley Stadium, the ballpark that sits just off the highway in downtown Wilmington.
Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has related video to come forward. The station's report noted that investigators want tipsters to call Delaware State Police or Delaware Crime Stoppers as the investigation continues.
Part of a Rise in Delaware Road Deaths This Year
The fatal crash comes amid a troubling climb in Delaware traffic deaths overall. As of June 23, 54 people had died in crashes on Delaware roads this year, a 23% increase from the 44 fatalities reported at the same point in 2025, per WDEL's earlier reporting. Vehicle occupants accounted for the largest share of that toll, with 30 deaths reported by that date, up 43% compared to the same period last year, while 25 fatalities were linked to vehicles leaving the roadway, a 32% jump from 2025.
Pedestrian deaths, by contrast, had actually fallen during that same stretch, with 11 reported statewide as of June 23 — a 15% decrease from the year before. DelDOT has cautioned that its traffic fatality statistics are unofficial and may change as crash investigations are completed, a caveat that applies to this week's crash as well since the probe remains active.
