WBOC NewsWatcher Gene Shaner submitted these photos of Wednesday night's tractor-trailer collision in Smyrna.SMYRNA, Del.– Delaware State Police are investigating a late Wednesday night collision and fire involving two tractor-trailers on Route 1 in Smyrna.
Police said that at around 10:23 p.m., 48-year-old Georgia I. Mullett of Hamilton, N.C., was driving northbound on Route 1 near Paddock Road when she had a coughing spell.
Authorities said Mullett attempted to swerve her 2010 International tractor-trailer to avoid hitting another vehicle, but her tractor struck the trailer portion of a 1998 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by 40-year-old Juan R. Pinos-Vicuna of Corona, N.Y. Investigators said the vehicles both traveled approximately 900 feet before stopping, at which point Mullett's tractor-trailer caught fire.
The fire reportedly caused severe damage to both vehicles, but troopers said Mullett was able to immediately get out of her tractor-trailer. She was removed from the scene by EMS and taken to Kent General Hospital in Dover for treatment of minor injuries at Kent General Hospital.
Pinos-Vicuna was not injured in the crash, according to police.
Troopers said Mullett was cited for careless driving.
The northbound lanes of Route 1 at Paddock Road were closed for several hours while the crash scene was investigated and cleared. The lanes reopened shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday.
