Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Male driver killed in high speed fiery Sunday crash in New Castle County, DE has been identified. Both speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the fatal crash


A man killed in a fiery Sunday morning car crash has been identified by police as Christopher Barton, 38, of Wilmington.

He was found unresponsive shortly after 2 a.m. at the scene of the crash, where he later was pronounced dead by New Castle County paramedics, county police said.

Initial reports of the crash said three vehicles were involved, but officers investigating the crash site along the 800 block of McKennans Church Road determined only one car was involved, but had broken into several pieces before catching fire, Officer First Class Tom Jackson said.

Both speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the fatal crash, he said.

Investigators determined Barton was headed north on McKennans Church Road at a high rate of speed and lost control on a slight curve, Jackson said.

His car slid across the southbound lane and onto the shoulder, where it hit a curb before continuing up onto the roadside grass, he said. There, the car hit a large tree, knocking it over and uprooting it, causing the car to flip over and break apart, he added.

The impact threw Barton onto the grass amid the wreckage, Jackson said.
The engine then caught fire, later put out by crews from Mill Creek and Elsmere fire companies, he said.

Police are continuing their investigation of the fatal crash.

Trying to locate anyone who may have seen it happen, they ask any possible witnesses to call the New Castle County Police Department at (302) 573-2800, give information under “crime tips and alerts” at www.NCCPD.com, send messages via Facebook or use the force’s smartphone app.

Information also may be given through Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 and www.tipsubmit.com.