MAGNOLIA, Del.- Delaware State Police are investigating a seven-car crash near Magnolia that left four people injured early Wednesday evening.
Troopers said that at around 6:19 p.m., they were called to the scene of a chain reaction crash involving five cars on South State Street at Woodlytown Road north of Magnolia.
According to police, an investigation revealed that 24-year-old Alan C. Peters of Greenwood, who was operating a Chevrolet pickup truck southbound on South State Street approaching Woodlytown Road, failed to see traffic stopped in front of him for a red light and struck the rear of a Chrysler 300, operated by 24-year-old Eugene T. Scott of Dover. Investigators said this caused the Chrysler to be pushed forward into the back of a Ford F-250 pickup, operated by 72-year-old Edward G. Davis of Laurel. Police said Davis' pickup then crashed into a Kia SUV operated by 31-year-old Keona D. Smith of Frederica, which crashed into a Ford Ranger, operated by 53-year-old Frank W. Eicherly, also of Frederica.
Authorities said the Chrysler 300 then caught on fire, which in turn spread to the Ford F-250. Both drivers were able to free themselves from the vehicles prior to them being engulfed in flames.
Troopers said Peters, Scott, Davis, and Smith, who were all properly restrained, were removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Kent General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Eicherly was not injured in the crash, according to police.
Peters was cited by troopers for inattentive driving, while Scott was cited for driving while suspended.
Police said that at approximately 7:05 p.m. as the crash was still being investigated and fire police were directing traffic away from the area, 64-year-old John J. Kacsmar of Frederica was operating a Ford Explorer eastbound on Woodlytown Road and approaching South State Street.
According to investigators, as a 70-year-old fire policeman was directing the Explorer around the scene, Kacsmar swerved through some cones in the roadway and almost struck the fire police, before he ran into the back of a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was used by the fire police to block the roadway.
Kacsmar, who police said was suspected to be under the influence of drugs, was transported back to Troop 3 where he was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving while suspended, and other traffic-related charges. Kacsmar was not injured in the crash, police said.
Traffic in the area was impacted for approximately two hours as the crash was investigated and cleared, police said.
(Photo: MGN)
