Date: 09/30/2011
Time: Around 4:00 A.M.
Location: Claymont, Delaware
Vehicle(s) Involved: Two semi-trucks, box truck
By Delaware Online News
"A fatal accident about a mile south of Philadelphia Pike in Claymont closed all lanes of northbound I-495 for more than four hours this morning but all lanes are now open.
All northbound traffic was diverted off the highway at the Edgemoor Road exit after the crash about 3:30 a.m. Traffic backed up to the 12th Street interchange.
According to reports from the scene, traffic was slowed for an earlier accident when a box truck collided with a tanker tractor-trailer, which in turn struck a flatbed tractor-trailer carrying wood.
The driver of the box truck, about 45 years old, was trapped in the cab for 30 minutes before being extricated by firefighters and taken to Christiana Hospital by state police helicopter, where he was pronounced dead shortly after, said Cpl. Peter T. Small of New Castle County paramedics.
The driver of the tanker, a 59-year-old man, was treated for head, abdominal and back injuries and admitted to Christiana in stable condition, Small said.
State police are investigating the crash.
Motorists are urged to use I-95 to avoid delays."
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The woman, who has not yet been identified, died at the scene.
The female driver of Penn-Harris-Madison bus driver was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police at the scene said. No students were aboard at the time.
The driver of the bus reportedly had already dropped off students and was en route from a district garage to the driver’s home when the accident occurred.
St. Joseph County Sheriff Mike Grzegorek said the driver of the bus told police she attempted to get out of the way. The SUV had severe damage to its hood.
Two other serious accidents occurred on that stretch of McKinley this month.
On Sept. 20, 39-year-old Frederick Bazeley, of Osceola, was killed at McKinley Avenue and Home Street, when the motorcyclist he was driving westbound on McKinley struck a truck. Police said Bazeley may have been driving as fast as 70 mph.
And on Sept. 18, 29-year-old Matthew Sitke, of Nappanee, was critically injured when the car he was driving struck a train on McKinley Avenue near Filbert Road. Sitke had been drinking at the time of the early morning crash, police said.
Sitke’s passenger, Alexandra Langer, 27, of Chicago, was injured but has since been released from the hospital.
The accidents near Elder Road and Home Street are only about a quarter mile from each other. Filbert is about another mile west of Home.
Monday’s crash occurred just east of the Mishawaka city limits; the other two were in the city.
Staff writer Tom Moor:"
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