Brittany Horn and Alonzo Small, The News Journal 10:34 a.m. EDT June 8, 2016
(Photo: Alex_Schmidt, Getty Images/iStockphoto)
One person is dead following a fatal crash Tuesday afternoon on Bay Road in Little Heaven, according to state police.
The crash, which occurred about 1:55 p.m. on southbound Del. 1 just south of Clapham Road, involved an SUV and a van.
Heath B. Janssen, 41 of Dover, was pronounced dead at the scene, Master Cpl. Gary Fournier said. Janssen, a Verizon employee, was placing equipment into the back of his work truck after checking a phone line in the area, Fournier said. Janssen's work vehicle, a 2006 Ford F36 box truck, was pulled over on the southbound shoulder surrounded by cones near the entrance of the Valero gas station on 7865 Bay Road, Fournier said.
Meanwhile, Zachary M. Krytzer, 27 of Milton, was operating a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero on southbound Del. 1 (Bay Road) just south of Clapham Road.
Police say Krytzer's Montero drifted onto the southbound shoulder and struck a mailbox and road reflector, before striking and pinning Janssen to the rear of his work truck.
Witnesses from the scene say Krytzer's Montero was weaving in and out of traffic prior to the crash, Fournier said.
The Verizon truck was pushed forward approximately 36 feet on the southbound shoulder while Krytzer's Montero continued southbound for an additional 23 feet before coming to a stop, Fournier said.
Krytzer, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was treated for non-life threatening injuries at the Bayhealth Kent General Hospital, Fournier said.
The State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit was at the crash and continue to investigate the incident, Fournier said.
Del. 1 southbound was closed at Clapham Road for three and a half hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.