Thursday, July 9, 2015

3 injured in fiery crash with box truck on fire at Del. 1 & Del. 273 in New Castle, Delaware


Three people were injured, one of them critically, in a fiery crash that left a box truck on its side and a driver trapped in wreckage at the busy intersection of Del. 1 and Del. 273 just before the start of Thursday evening rush hour.

A crash reported at 3:36 p.m. Thursday prompted state police to warn drivers to avoid the New Castle-area intersection, but massive traffic backups were reported to stretch nearly a mile on Christiana Road and the Christiana Bypass.

The male driver of the car remained trapped until emergency crews freed him by cutting away the vehicle's doors and roof, said Christiana Fire Company Fire Chief Richard J. Perillo.

The 76-year-old man was treated on scene for an upper extremity injury and possible internal injuries, said New Castle County Paramedic Cpl. Abigail E. Haas. He then was transported with advanced life support assistance to Christiana Hospital, Perillo said. He was in critical condition Thursday night, Haas said.

A female passenger in the car was also transported to the same hospital by basic life support services with non life-threatening injuries, Haas said.
The truck driver declined treatment, Haas added.

Christiana Fire Company was assisted in the rescue effort by crews from Minquas of Newport Fire Company, Perillo said.

A Department of Transportation hazardous materials team also has been called to the crash site to deal with a diesel fuel spill, according to dispatch reports.
DNREC officials and a hazardous materials team from Belvedere Fire Company assisted with a large spill of fuel and oil from the overturned box truck, Perillo said.

Only one lane of eastbound Del. 273 remained open shortly after the crash, reported at 3:36 p.m. Thursday, Delaware State Police Master Cpl. Jeffrey R. Hale said. The crash scene has since been cleared, according to Delaware Department of Transportation live traffic reports.

With police in the preliminary stages of investigating the crash, Hale said more information will be released when the investigation is completed.