UPDATE: Fatal crash involving fuel tanker in Bridgeville under investigation

11/4 UPDATE: Delaware State Police have identified the driver killed in Sunday’s crash as 49-year-old Isaias Perez of Bridgeville.

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BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Delaware State Police say one man died after his car collided with a fuel tanker in Bridgeville, Sunday morning.

The accident happened at 10:54 a.m. in the southbound lane of Route 13 near Redden Road. Investigators say a 64-year-old man was driving west on Redden Road in a tanker carrying diesel fuel. Meanwhile, a 49-year-old was driving a Toyota Corolla south on Route 13. The two hit each other in the intersection and the truck overturned, “resulting in the spillage of a substantial amount of diesel fuel.” Some crews are reporting at least 2,000 gallons of fuel spilled onto the road and the Level 1 State Emergency Response Team was called to assist.

The 49-year-old driver of the car was wearing a seat belt but was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was brought to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police have not yet released the victim’s names or information about whether alcohol/drugs are a factor.

Sources say crews the following crews responded to the scene: Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company, Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company, Sussex County EMS, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and DNREC. “Reporting an uncontained fuel spill that cannot be stopped, requesting all available absorbent from Bridgeville and Greenwood.”

Southbound Route 13 in the area of Redden Road was closed completely for four hours. One southbound lane was re-opened at 2:45 p.m. and DNREC is still at the scene for continued clean-up. The crash is still under investigation.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

For updates on road closures and traffic information: click here.

Categories: Delaware, Local News