Fatal multi-car crash in Delaware

This morning’s deadly car crash in Bear involved six different vehicles and killed a Dover woman.

Delaware State Police identified the victim as Catherine Keyes, 61, who was riding in her husband’s 2008 Honda Accord at the time. In spite of wearing a seat belt, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency Medical Services transported driver Joseph Keyes to Christiana Hospital for serious injuries.

According to police, Keyes set off the chain reaction crash. He was speeding in the northbound lanes of U.S. Route 13 north of Red Lion Road at approximately 7:17 a.m. The 66-year-old attempted to swerve his car to the left to avoid hitting a decelerating 2002 Chevrolet Silverado.  Keyes struck the left rear of the pickup truck, then sideswiped the driver side of a 2003 Honda Accord directly in front of the Chevy. 

The collisions pushed Keyes’ Accord into the grassy median and when he re-entered the road, he struck a 2010 Dodge Ram, which was stopped in the left turn lane at Hamburg Road.

The impact of that collision caused Keyes’ vehicle and the Dodge Ram into the intersection where they then struck a 2010 Dodge Challenger, as well as a 2010 Chrysler 300, which were both headed eastbound through the intersection.

Three of the drivers involved were taken to Christiana and treated for non-life threatening injuries, while the remaining two were not injured.

The crash remains under investigation, but it is not believed that alcohol and road conditions were contributing factors.

The northbound lanes of U.S. Rt. 13 at Hamburg Road were closed for about four hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

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Original story

U.S. Route 13 in Bear has been reopened to traffic, following a crash this morning that killed one person.

The multi-car crash shut down the intersections of S. DuPont Highway at Bear Road and at Red Lion Road for several hours Tuesday morning. Delaware State Police Spokesman Master Cpl. Jeffrey Hale did not have further details about how many cars were involved in the 7:15 a.m. crash on northbound U.S. Route 13 at Bear Road or whether icy roads may have been a factor.

A winter weather advisory had been in effect in the area, warning of slick roads from overnight freezing rain and snow showers.

The crash remain under investigation by the DSP Crash Reconstruction Unit.