UPDATE: Victims identified in fatal Harbeson crash

Delaware State Police say, they’re currently investigating a fatal crash in Harbeson that occurred early Sunday evening.

According to reports, just after 7:00 PM 34-year-old Gianfranco Carta, of Milton was driving a Mercury Marquis northbound and 49-year-old Paula Pennington, of Wilmington was driving a Mazda southbound on Harbeson Road north of Forest Road. For unknown reasons, police say Carta drifted into the southbound lane and struck Pennington nearly head-on. The impact of the collision apparently caused the the Marquis to rotate counterclockwise and slid off the east side of roadway, while the Mazda rotated counterclockwise and slid off the west side of roadway. Both operators were reportedly extensively trapped and required rescue by local fire departments.

Carta, who was reportedly not properly restrained, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Beebe Healthcare where he was pronounced dead. A small family dog in Carta’s vehicle also reportedly died in the crash.

Pennington was reportedly properly restrained and, was admitted to Beebe Healthcare with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officials preliminary investigation reveals the Marquis may not have had its headlights on prior to the collision. Harbeson Road north of Forest Road was closed for about three hours while the crash was investigated and cleared. The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.