A 69-year-old Wilmington man riding an electric wheelchair was killed Friday afternoon when a Jeep Cherokee struck him on Philadelphia Pike near Holly Oak, and the driver who hit him briefly left the scene before troopers tracked her down at a nearby home. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. when the Jeep, traveling northbound in the left lane just north of East Holly Oak Road, struck the man after he entered the roadway from the sidewalk on the east side of the street, according to Delaware State Police.
Police say the man had been operating his electric wheelchair along the sidewalk before entering the roadway and into the Jeep's path, per preliminary findings from Delaware State Police. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to The News Journal. His name is being withheld pending family notification, the paper reports.
Driver Stopped, Then Drove Away
The driver, a 51-year-old woman from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, initially stopped at the scene but then drove away, state police said. Troopers located her and her vehicle shortly afterward at a nearby residence; she had not been arrested, state police said. Per the same account, Delaware's collision reconstruction unit continues to investigate the crash, and officials have not said whether charges will be filed.
Delaware law requires drivers involved in a crash resulting in injury or death to stop immediately at the scene. For crashes involving personal injury, Title 21, Section 4202 of the Delaware Code carries a fine of $1,000 to $3,000 and imprisonment between one and two years; penalties for fatal crashes differ, according to Delaware Code Online. The statute requires drivers to stop as close to the scene as possible without blocking traffic and to render aid.
A Corridor With a History of Pedestrian Hazards
Philadelphia Pike falls within the patrol territory of Delaware State Police Troop 1, based at 603 Philadelphia Pike in Wilmington, an agency whose roots trace back to 1919, when Delaware assigned its first highway patrol officer specifically to that corridor, according to Delaware State Police records. Troop 1 covers unincorporated communities across northern New Castle County, where state data shows a disproportionate share of Delaware's traffic deaths occur.
The stretch of roadway near Holly Oak has drawn scrutiny from state engineers before. A DelDOT Pedestrian Safety Audit Study along Philadelphia Pike recommended site-specific crosswalk and lighting improvements at other locations along the corridor, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
Pedestrian Fatalities Statewide
Traffic safety officials have noted that northern Delaware sees a higher concentration of pedestrian and congestion-related crashes than the rest of the state.
Investigation Continues
Philadelphia Pike was closed for roughly three hours Friday as investigators worked the scene, according to Delaware State Police. Delaware State Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has video of it to contact Cpl. K. Oakes at 302-365-8483, or to send information through the department's private Facebook message system. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit operates a 24-hour toll-free hotline, 1-800-VICTIM-1, offering support and resources to families who have lost loved ones in sudden traffic fatalities.
