Three people, including a 16-year-old girl, killed in a crash involving a motorcycle Monday night near New Castle, have been identified by Delaware State Police.
The victims were identified by police on Thursday as Caitlyn Wilson, 16, of New Castle; 69-year-old Beverly Weaver, of Sun City, Florida; and Dennis Smith, 36, of Newark. Another woman who was seriously injured in the crash has not been identified.
Several area residents said crashes, as well as people racing along the roadway, are common along this stretch of road — this also includes people on ATVs and motorcycles popping wheelies and other unsafe driving habits.
“A lot of people travel high speed because it’s a straightaway, you got a long shot, a few lights in between,” said Greg Barrett, who lives near the crash scene. “It’s just the nature of the beast.”
While not sure what could be done to prevent some of these crashes, Barrett and other residents said better technology in that area could help with speeding and accidents.
“I have no idea what would stop it,” he said, “but maybe red-light cameras at this intersection because it’s just getting really bad.”
Delaware Online/The News Journal has asked the state how many crashes have occurred on this stretch of road, but the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security has not yet responded to a Freedom of Information Act seeking that information.
The incident occurred about 8:40 p.m. as a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica was traveling west on Christiana Road and was trying to make a left turn onto Prangs Lane, said Senior Cpl. Jason Hatchell, a police spokesman.
As the Chrysler began turning, police said a 2020 Kawasaki Zx6 motorcycle — traveling at a high rate of speed on east Christiana Road — collided with the minivan.
Smith, the Kawasaki’s driver, was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene, Hatchell said.
The Chrysler’s driver, a 47-year-old New Castle woman, was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Weaver, the Chrysler’s front-seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. Wilson, who was in the minivan’s rear seat, was taken to an area hospital where she died.
Several residents on Christiana Road said they heard the motorcycle roaring down the road moments before the crash. When they looked outside, they said the motorcyclist’s body was lying in the roadway.
Debris from Monday night’s crash remained at the intersection Tuesday morning, as did stains on the asphalt and spray markings made by investigators.
Route 273 was closed in both directions for about four hours while the crash was investigated and the roadway cleared.
Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.
