In a matter of 12 hours, two people were killed in separate crashes on opposite sides of Sussex County, Delaware State Police said.
The first fatal crash occurred about 7:20 p.m. Sunday as a 40-year-old Rehoboth Beach man was driving a 2013 Nissan Altima south on Coastal Highway (Route 1), police said.
As he approached the intersection at Rehoboth Avenue Extension, police said the cyclist — a 54-year-old Rehoboth Beach area man — entered the Nissan’s path causing the man to leave his bicycle and land in the median.
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The cyclist, has not been identified pending family notification, was taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
The Nissan driver fled the scene, but police said he and his car were found by responding troopers near Martin Street.
“Possible charges against the Nissan driver are pending the results of the investigation,” said Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto, a police spokesperson.
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Sussex County’s second fatal crash occurred about 7:10 a.m. Monday as a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, driven by a 69-year-old Hebron, Maryland, man, was stopped for a school bus picking up children in the left lane of Sussex Highway (Route 13) near Seaford.
That’s when a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, driven by a 19-year-old Fruitland, Maryland, man, failed to stop for the bus and struck the rear of the Cavalier, police said.
Police said both cars were propelled off the road. The school bus was not hit and no children were injured.
The Sonata driver was taken to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, while the Cavalier driver was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His identification is pending notification to his family and relatives, police said.
No other vehicles were involved in this collision and police said possible charges against the Chevrolet driver are pending the results of the investigation.
Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com.
