Smyrna – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is currently investigating a fatal crash that has claimed the life of a male child. Members of the Smyrna Police Department were dispatched to the crash on Glenwood Avenue at the intersection with School Lane in Smyrna tonight at 6:10 pm and discovered a tractor-trailer and a bicyclist were involved in the crash.
Because of the fatal injuries sustained by the child in this crash the Delaware State Police CRU team was contacted by Smyrna PD and asked to handle the investigation. DSP investigators have learned an 18-wheel Tractor-Trailer was traveling westbound on Glenwood Avenue approaching School Lane.
A small male child was riding a bicycle northbound on School Lane approaching Glenwood Avenue. The tractor-trailer was traveling through the intersection when the bicyclist failed to stop at a stop sign on School Lane and entered the intersection striking the rear of the trailer. Consequently, the bicyclist crashed causing the rear tires of the trailer to travel overtop of the child.
The child died of injuries sustained in the crash. The operator of the tractor-trailer was not injured. He was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol is not a factor. The roadway was closed for approximately 3 hours and has since been reopened.
Note: The names of those involved will be released once next of kin notification has been made.
Update on Smyrna Fatal Crash
The Delaware State Police are providing additional details surrounding the fatal crash that occurred earlier this evening in Smyrna. The child that died in the crash was Christopher T. Foote Jr., 5 years old of Smyrna. He was not wearing a helmet.
The driver of the tractor trailer is Vaughn E. Wilson, 42 of Suffolk, VA. He was operating a 2005 Freightliner owned by Snyder National Trucking Company. The trailer was loaded with freight from Wal-Mart. No charges have been filed in the crash.
perhaps we should be educating our children on rules of the road at an early age...or for that matter require cyclists to have licenses too..tragic
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we teach them enough. Sometimes they just don't pay enough attention.
ReplyDeleteHow terrible for everyone involved! My prayers go out to all of them!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow. Just got home, cranked up your blog and saw this.
ReplyDeleteA real tragedy. I know they gotta report these things. But would a helmet have a difference? Don't sound like it.
My thoughts are with the family. Man, if that was my kid, well, I just can't even imagine that and stay sane.
why does that last name sound familar. has it been on this site before
ReplyDeleteThis is a horrible tragedy for all involved. I have extreme empathy for the parents as I have lost a young child myself. Of course all info. isn't here, but I find myself asking why was a 5 year old riding a bicycle on the road alone? My children are older than that yet I don't even allow them to ride their bikes on the road in front of my house unless I am out there watching for cars.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a responsible parent and a great role model for your children!
Deletepoor kid. It is a sad thing, but a total accident. You cannot watch kids 100% of the time, so let's not start blaming the family. It is a tragedy.
ReplyDelete11:27 I thought the same thing.
ReplyDeleteyea lets really not blame the family because everyone in that family loves that boy to death if you werent there you dont need to assume things because you dont know the circumstances
ReplyDeleteJust found out about this tragedy through Find A Grave. Very sad but yes you do wonder why this child was riding a bike alone on a street that semi's travel on and without a helmet! It does not mention that anyone was riding along with this little boy. So, you tend to assume that it was an irresponsible act on the parents to let him go alone, especially to not wear a helmet. Not that it would have helped in this accident. Prayers to the family.
ReplyDeleteI know the family and his mom is not irresponsible. It was an extremely tragic accident that she has to deal with on a daily basis. I can't imagine the pain that is felt when a parent loses a child due to any circumstance. I myself am over protective because this is a parent's worst nightmare. I pray niether I nor anyone reading these posts have to experience what his mom and family have experienced due to this tragedy. So please don't assume, you or I could be in their shoes one day, knowing we aren't irresponsible parents.
ReplyDelete