Three Vehicle Crash Closes Rt. 13 In New Castle

Location: Southbound US Rt. 13 at US Rt. 40, New Castle, DE

Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 3:05 a.m.

Operators/Vehicles:

Operator 1: Kristie L. Watunya, 20, Middletown, DE
Vehicle 1: 2007 Honda Civic

Operator 2: Farrell L. Harris, 40, Petersburg, VA
Vehicle 2: 2002 Kenworth Tractor and trailer

Operator 3: Joseph V. Cannan, 42, National Park, VA
Vehicle 3: 2005 Sterling Tractor and trailer


Resume: The Delaware State Police are investigating a three vehicle crash that closed southbound US. Rt. 13 early this morning.

The accident occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning as Joseph Cannan was operating a Sterling tractor with a trailer and was traveling southbound on US Rt. 13 at the US Rt. 40 split in New Castle, DE. Cannan’s vehicle then struck the rear of a Kenworth tractor and trailer that had slowed in front of him and which was being operated by Farrell Harris. Harris’ vehicle was then forced into the rear of a Honda Civic that was being operated by Kristie Watunya of Middletown, DE. Joseph Cannan’s vehicle, which was loaded with boxes of food, overturned into the parking lot of a former Exxon Gas Station which sits in between the US. Rt. 40 eastbound and US Rt. 13 southbound lanes immediately to the west of the crash scene. Cannan was transported by EMS to the Christiana Hospital where he was treated and released for a laceration to his arm. Rt. 13 southbound was closed for approximately 2 hours as the crash was investigated and the roadway cleared. The accident is still under investigation at this time.