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NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE (6/8/2016) A line of strong thunderstorms struck New Castle County late this morning, bringing winds of 60 mph, toppling trees and power lines and causing multiple traffic accidents.
More than 13,900 Delmarva Power customers remained without electric service at 1:20 p.m., according to the company’s website. Another 7,300 remained out in Cecil County, Maryland. By 3 p.m., the total number out in both counties was down to 11,700.
DelDOT reported several traffic signals out in the area of Commons Boulevard and Route 141 due to the power outages.
About 11:30 a.m., multiple vehicles were involved in crashes in the 3800 block of Thompsons Bridge Road, where a large tree fell across the roadway and onto a car.
A 32-year-old woman was trapped in the wreckage and extricated by Talleyville Fire Company in about 15 minutes, said Cpl. David J. McKinney Jr. of New Castle County paramedics. She was evaluated and taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Stantion in stable condition.
Delaware State Police are investigating the crashes.
In Middletown, a large tree was knocked down in the 500 block of N. Broad St., with multiple power outages in the area, the National Weather Service reported. A trained spotter in the area estimated a wind gust of 60 mph, the service said.
Choptank Road north of Middletown also was closed by a toppled tree.
On Edinburgh Drive near New Castle, a tree fell on top of a car, the weather service reported.
A wind gust of 59 mph was measured at Dewey Beach, and wind gusts of 40-50 mph were estimated at Bear, the weather service said. A 54 mph gust was measured at New Castle Airport.
Quarter-inch hail was reported in Pike Creek and near Christiana Hospital in Stanton.