EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect a correction from Delaware State Police, clarifying that it was actually the motorcyclist heading south on South Dupont Highway with the green light, while the Mazda was heading north and turning left through the red light.
A 31-year-old man and a 40-year-old man were killed in separate crashes near New Castle on Wednesday night, according to Delaware State Police.
They have been identified as Malcolm Bayron of Wilmington and Elmer Nesspor of New Castle.
Hit-and-run crash leaves motorcyclist dead
Police said that Bayron, who was driving a motorcycle, was killed in a hit-and-run at 9:41 p.m. on South Dupont Highway.
He was heading south on a gray 2020 Kawasaki ZX-9R toward Second Avenue near New Castle, according to police. At the same time, the unidentified driver of a blue 2021 Mazda CX-5 heading north on South Dupont Highway entered the same intersection.
State police said the Mazda went around a car that was stopped in the left-turn lane at the red light and began to turn left onto Second Avenue. Bayron, who police said had a green light, also drove through the intersection and was hit by the Mazda.
The motorcyclist was thrown off the bike, and the Mazda stopped on the shoulder of the road, according to police. The driver then got out of the car and began walking south on South Dupont Highway, and police have not yet found them.
The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The road was closed for about three hours. The crash remains under investigation.
Pedestrian fatally hit near New Castle
About two hours later, Elmer Nesspor was fatally hit by a car on New Castle Avenue (Route 9) near New Castle, Delaware State Police said.
Police said Nesspor was walking north on the right shoulder of Route 9 just past West Avenue at 11:46 p.m. At the same time, a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving north in the right northbound lane of Route 9.
Police said Nesspor walked directly into the path of the Jeep as it passed, and he was hit and killed by the front of the car.
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Route 9 was closed between West Avenue and Hillview Drive for about three hours Wednesday night, and police are still investigating the incident.
Police looking for information
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call Master Cpl. J. Forester at 302-365-8485.
Anyone with information about the pedestrian crash is asked to call Cpl. Santangelo at 302-633-5000.
Tips can also be sent to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.