NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE (10/17/2016) Seven people were injured Sunday in a chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles on Interstate 295 north of New Castle, authorities said.
The collisions were reported at 11:19 a.m. in the westbound lanes approaching the Interstate 495 overpass.
Harold Clare, 84, of Pennsylvania, was driving a 2006 Toyota Sienna in the left lane and slowed due to congestion ahead, Delaware State Police said.
The minivan was then struck in the rear by a 2016 Hyundai Elantra, driven by Deborah A. Newman, 61, of New Jersey.
A 2004 Mercedes Benz, driven by Carole M. Mixon, 71, of New Jersey, then rear-ended the Hyundai.
The Mercedes was in turn struck in the rear by a 2003 Mercedes, driven by Willa M. Robinson, 68, of North Carolina.
The driver of a 2007 Ford Taurus, Christopher Harrington, 39, of Massachusetts, swerved to the right to avoid the other vehicles and was struck by a 2011 tractor-trailer driven by Quintae L. Hall, 36, of Pennsylvania.
All vehicles involved came to a stop in the westbound lanes of I-295, police said.
Seven people were treated at the scene and six of those were taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Stanton, said Cpl. David J. McKinney Jr. of New Castle County paramedics. All of those taken to the hospital were in stable condition.
Harrington and a 38-year-old woman who was his passenger were trapped in the wreckage until they were extricated by firefighters. Both were taken to the hospital.
Robinson was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries police said were not life-threatening. A passenger in her car, Kristin Robinson, was not injured.
Mixon was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. A passenger in her car, Raymond Mixon, 67, of New Jersey, also was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Clare and a passenger in the Toyota, Regina Camplone, 77, of New Jersey, were not injured, police said, and Hall and Newman were not injured. A passenger in Newman’s car, Francis Newman, also was not hurt, police said.
Newman was cited for following too closely, police said.
Westbound I-295 was closed about an hour as police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.
Holloway Terrace, Minquadale, Wilmington Manor, Minquas, Christiana and Cranston Heights fire companies responded, as well as the Delaware River and Bay Authority police.
48-year-old man killed in crash