WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (10/2/2015) A 57-year-old Newark woman was killed in a crash this morning that closed South Market Street just south of the Wilmington city line for four hours, Delaware State Police said.
Police identified the victim as Dorothy A. Pierce.
The accident on Business U.S. 13 was reported at 7:43 a.m. on the bridge over railroad tracks and involved an unoccupied school bus, a DART bus with several passengers and several passenger cars, police said.
According to reports from the scene, the accident stretched the entire length of the bridge.
State police released these details on the crash:
“Quashia C. Williams, 19, of Wilmington, DE, was operating a 2001 Dodge Durango and was traveling in a southbound direction in the right hand lane of South Market Street on the South Market Street Bridge, Wilmington. Williams then made an abrupt lane change into the left hand lane of travel in order to avoid striking two vehicles which were stopped in the roadway in front of her.
“The left front of Williams’ vehicle was then struck by the right front of a 2004 International school bus that was being operated by Patrick W. Roby, 66, of Newark, DE, and which was traveling in the left hand lane of South Market Street.
“The right side of Williams’ vehicle was then pushed into the rear of an unoccupied 1997 Acura Integra, which was one of the two vehicles that had been stopped in the right hand lane of travel.
“After the initial impact, the school bus entered the left hand lane of northbound South Market Street where it then struck the front of a 2015 Chevrolet Trax LT which was being operated by Dorothy A. Pierce, 57, of Newark, and which was traveling in the northbound left hand lane of travel.
“The left hand side of the school bus and the right hand side of the Chevrolet Trax then struck the left hand side of a 2014 Gillig (DART) transit bus, which was being operated by Chad D. Batts, 44, of New Castle, DE, and which was traveling in the right hand northbound lane of South Market Street.
“The right hand rear of the Chevrolet Trax was then struck by the left hand side of a 2015 Hyundai Elantra, which was being operated by Stephanie L. Foster, 31, of Newark, and which was traveling in a northbound direction on South Market Street.
“Dorothy Pierce, who was properly restrained at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Patrick Pierce, who was also properly restrained at the time of the crash, was treated at the scene by New Castle County Paramedics. He was then removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Wilmington Hospital where he was treated for his non-life threatening injuries. There were no passengers on the school bus.
“A passenger on the DART Transit bus was also removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Wilmington Hospital for evaluation. There were no other injuries.”
Police said alcohol is not being considered as a factor in the crash.
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