BEAR, DELAWARE (8/19/2018) A 57-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision on Salem Church Road in Bear late Saturday night, the Delaware State Police said. His wife was in critical condition and his son in serious condition, and another man also was injured.
The crash happened about 10:30 p.m. north of Deasy Drive.
Police said a 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck was southbound when the driver, a 39-year-old Bear man, crossed a double yellow line while attempting to pass a vehicle in the no-passing zone. The truck struck a northbound 2013 Toyota Camry head-on.
The Camry went into a ditch and overturned on the driver’s side, trapping two of the three occupants, police said.
The driver of the car, a 31-year-old Newark man, was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Stanton in serious condition. Police said he was wearing a seat belt.
His parents were in the back seat and not using seat belts, police said. The 57-year-old father, later identified as Raju Chanappa, from India, was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. The 52-year-old mother was in critical condition at the hospital.
Police withheld names pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the truck also was taken by ambulance to Christiana. Police described his injuries as not life-threatening. He was wearing a seat belt. Police said they suspect alcohol use may be a factor in the crash.
Salem Church Road was closed about three hours as police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.