HARBESON, DELAWARE (10/19/2015) A 34-year-old Milton man died Sunday in a two-vehicle crash on Route 5 south of Harbeson, the Delaware State Police said this morning. A pet dog also died, and a Wilmington woman was injured.
The nearly head-on accident happened about 7:05 p.m. north of Forest Road.
The man killed was identified as Gianfranco D. Carta.
He was driving a 2000 Merchury Marquis northbound on Harbeson Road (Route 5) when he drifted into the southbound lane and struck an oncoming 2011 Mazda MX3, police said.
The Marquis may not have had its headlights on, police said, based on witness accounts of the crash.
Both vehicles spun around and ended up on opposite sides of the roadway.
Both drivers were extensively trapped and had to be extricated by firefighters.
Carta, who police said was not properly restrained, was taken by ambulance to Beebe Healthcare’s hospital in Lewes, where he was pronounced dead.
The Mazda’s driver, Paula J. Pennington, 49, of Wilmington, was taken by ambulance to Beebe and admitted for injuries police said were not life-threatening.
A small pet dog in Carta’s car also died in the crash.
Harbeson Road north of Forest Road was closed about three hours as police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.
Milton, Indian River and Georgtown fire companies responded.
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