Rehoboth Beach teen dies in Milton-area crash
An 18-year-old Rehoboth Beach woman died March 26 following a two-vehicle crash on Gravel Hill Road.
The crash happened at 8:02 p.m. when a 2015 Chevrolet Cruz driven by a 19-year-old Milford woman was traveling westbound on Shingle Point Road approaching the intersection of Gravel Hill Road, said Sgt. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police. At the same time, she said, a 2009 Ford F-250 pickup truck, driven by a 43-year-old Smyrna man, was traveling northbound on Gravel Hill Road, approaching the intersection of Shingle Point Road. As the Chevrolet Cruz approached the sharp right curve in the roadway, for unknown reasons, Pepper said, the driver failed to negotiate the curve and entered the eastbound lane of travel, continuing westbound toward Gravel Hill Road. The Cruz then entered the northbound lane of Gravel Hill Road, Pepper said, directly into the path of the Ford F-250. As a result, she said, the front right of the Ford struck the front left of the Cruz in the northbound lane of Gravel Hill Road. After the collision, the Cruz came to rest upright, facing eastbound. The Ford exited the west edge of the roadway and overturned on its left side before striking a fence post and tree, Pepper said.
The 19-year-old Milford woman driving the Cruz was properly restrained. She was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, where she was admitted with nonlife-threatening injuries.
The passenger in the front right seat of the Cruz, Katelyn P. Irwin, was not properly restrained, Pepper said. Irwin suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The 43-year-old Smyrna man driving the Ford was properly restrained and was uninjured in the crash.
A 41-year-old Smyrna woman was properly restrained in the Ford’s front right seat. She was transported to an area hospital and admitted with serious injuries.
The roadway was closed for about four hours during the investigation. The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate. Anyone who witnessed this collision is asked to contact Sgt. Nick DeMalto by calling 302-703-3269. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or delawarecrimestoppers.com.
