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1 Dead, 4 Injured After Two Car Crash On I-495 South

Published  July 23, 2015 8:12am EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate a two vehicle fatal motor vehicle crash which has claimed the life of a Wilmington man that occurred this morning in New Castle.

State Police say the initial investigation has determined that the crash occurred around 7:06 a.m. Thursday, as Wilbert O. Mable, 35, of Wilmington, DE, was operating a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu and was traveling in the center lane of northbound I-495 at US Rt. 13, New Castle. For an unknown reason, Mable's vehicle swerved to the left, and entered the center grass median where it then struck a berm and became airborne as it entered the southbound lanes of I-495. While in the air, the Malibu began to overturn, landing upside down on the top front of a 2012 Chrysler 200, which was traveling on southbound I-495, and which was being operated by Michelle P. Nichols, 29, of Newark, DE. Both vehicles then came to rest in the southbound lanes of I-495.

Wilbert Mable, who was properly restrained in his vehicle at the time of the crash, was trapped in his car and pronounced dead at the scene, according to State Police.

Police say a woman, who was also properly restrained at the time of the crash, was treated at the scene by New Castle County paramedics. She was then removed from the scene by Emergency Medical Services and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was admitted with non-life threatening injuries.

Three juveniles, who were rear seat passengers in the woman's vehicle, were all treated at the scene by New Castle County paramedics as well. They were all removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center, where two of them (a 6 year old female and a 5 year old male) were treated for minor injuries. The third, an eight year old male, was later transferred to the A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, where he was admitted with serious injuries. The three juveniles were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash; however, they were not utilizing proper child restraint devices.

I-495 southbound in the area of US Rt. 13 was closed for approximately 3.5 hours as the crash was investigated and cleared. This crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit; however, no charges will be filed.