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| The fatal crash that took the life of the 2018 Volvo tanker truck driver Michael L. Kent, 53, was caused by a disabled Toyota Avalon blocking the right lane of I-495 northbound just south of the Philadelphia Pike |
Newark man dies in tanker truck crash on I-495
By Josh Shannon jshannon@chespub.com
August 13, 2018
A man from Newark died early Saturday when his tanker truck struck a disabled car on Interstate 495, police said.
The victim was identified as Michael L. Kent, 53, according to Master Cpl. Michael Austin, a spokesman for Delaware State Police.
The incident began when a 2014 Toyota Avalon broke down south of Philadelphia Pike in Claymont at around 3 a.m. and partially blocked the right lane of the interstate. The Toyota was struck by a 1998 Buick Le Sabre and then by a 2018 Volvo tanker truck driven by Kent.
The tanker truck, which was hauling molten sulfur, overturned onto its left side and slide across the highway, ultimately striking a guardrail. Kent died at the scene.
The driver of the Toyota, who had exited the car before the crash, was not hurt. Neither was the driver of the Buick.
I-495 was closed for 11 hours while police investigated and cleared the scene, though Austin said none of the molten sulfur leaked out of the tanker.
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UPDATE: Delaware State Police have released details about what caused the fatal crash that closed northbound and southbound I-495 in Claymont for several hours Saturday
UPDATE Aug. 12, 11:53 a.m.:
The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash involving an overturned tractor trailer that happened at about 3:02 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 11 on I-495 northbound just south of the Philadelphia Pike in Claymont.
The initial investigation has determined that a 2014 Toyota Avalon had become disabled and was partially blocking the right lane of I-495 northbound, about a quarter-mile south of the Philadelphia Pike off-ramp.
A 1998 Buick Le Sabre, driven by a 27-year-old Philadelphia woman, was traveling north on I-495 in the right lane when she saw the disabled vehicle and swerved left to avoid a collision, but could not do so. The right side of the Buick struck the left side of the Toyota.
The Toyota remained disabled in the right lane.
A 53-year-old Newark man was driving north in a 2018 Volvo tanker truck and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision with the disabled vehicle in the right lane. The front of his truck hit the rear of the Toyota, and the truck turned on its side and slid. The cab portion of the Volvo struck a guard rail before the truck stopped.
The driver of the Volvo tanker truck, who was properly restrained, was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said. Identification is pending next of kin notification.
The collision with the truck pushed the Toyota off the right side of the road where it struck a guardrail and then rolled down an embankment before stopping.
The driver of the Toyota, a 46-year-old Philadelphia man, had exited the car when it became disabled. He wasn’t injured.
The woman driving the Buick brought her car to a controlled stop and remained at the scene. She was properly restrained and wasn’t injured, police said.
The tanker truck was carrying molten sulfur. There was no leakage, but the road was closed for about 11 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information to call Cpl. Forester of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit at (302) 365-8485.
Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
UPDATE Aug. 11, 2:38 p.m.:
Both northbound and southbound I-495 have reopened as of 2:38 p.m., according to Delaware State Police.
UPDATE Aug. 11, 12:50 p.m.:
Northbound I-495 has reopened in Claymont but southbound I-495 remains closed as of 12:50 p.m., according to Delaware State Police.
ORIGINAL REPORT Aug. 11:
Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving an overturned tractor trailer that occurred at 3:02 a.m. today, Saturday, Aug. 11, on I-495 northbound just south of Philadelphia Pike in Claymont.
As a result of the crash, I-495 northbound was closed between Edgemoor Road and Philadelphia Pike, and I-495 southbound was closed between Edgemoor Road and the Pennsylvania state line.
Police said they anticipate the road being closed for an extended period of time. There is no projected time for the re-opening at this point as the investigation and clean-up operation continue.
For updated road closure information click on the following link:
http://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/travel_advisory/index.shtml#advisories.
The investigation is in the early stages and more details will be released as they become available, police said.=====================================
CLAYMONT, DE (CBS) —
Officials have revealed the cause of the fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer that shut down I-495 on Saturday.
According to the Delaware State Police, the crash was caused by a disabled vehicle blocking the right lane of I-495 northbound just south of the Philadelphia Pike.
The crash happened at approximately 3:02 shortly after an earlier crash caused by that same vehicle, a Toyota Avalon, blocking the right lane.
Police say that the first accident happened when a woman, 27, swerved to avoid a collision with the broken down car. Unfortunately, she failed to do so and the right side of her Buick hit the left side of the Toyota.
She had noticed the vehicle blocking the lane too late to avoid hitting it, said police. The woman, who was properly restrained when the accident occurred, remained unharmed.
The right lane remained blocked following this initial accident and it was at this time, the tractor-trailer came traveling up the right lane.
Failing to see the disabled Toyota, the 53-year-old truck driver hit the rear end of the car. That collision caused the tractor-trailer to overturn onto its left side where it began to slide, struck a guardrail, and then finally came to a stop.
This second collision forced the Toyota off the right side of the roadway where it also struck a guardrail before rolling down an embankment.
The driver of the disabled Toyota, a 46-year-old man from Philadelphia, had exited his vehicle when the car broke down and was also uninjured.
Unfortunately, although properly restrained, the driver of the tractor-trailer was pronounced dead at the scene.
He has not yet been identified.
Officials say that there was no leakage of the molten sulfur that the tractor-trailer was transporting; however, the roadway was closed for approximately 11 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Cpl. J. Forester of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit at 302-365-8485.