WILMINGTON, Del.– Former Delaware Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove, 72, and her husband Wayne Manlove, 75, both of Ocean View, died in a Monday crash on Route 13 in the Red Lion area of New Castle County.
According to Delaware State Police, shortly before 2 p.m. Elaine Manlove was driving a Chevrolet Equinox, which was stopped in the right lane of northbound South DuPont Highway for a red traffic light at the intersection to Red Lion Road, when a Freightliner tractor-trailer rear-ended the Equinox. This caused the car to spin out of control until it struck a tree, investigators said.
Elaine Manlove and her husband, who was a front seat passenger, were properly restrained. Both were transported to Christiana Hospital where they were pronounced deceased.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 41-year-old man from Ephrata, Pa., was not injured as a result of the crash, police said.
Manlove served as Delaware elections commissioner for 12 years until her retirement in June 2019.
Delaware Gov. John Carney on Tuesday released the following statement on the deaths of Elaine and Wayne Manlove:
“Tracey and I are devastated by the tragic news about Elaine Manlove and her husband, Wayne. I’ve known Elaine since our days working together for New Castle County Executive Dennis Greenhouse in the early 1990s. Elaine was one of the most positive people I’ve ever known—and could light up any room. We are praying hard for Elaine and Wayne’s children, their entire family and many friends. Elaine spent the last two decades protecting our fundamental right to vote—12 of those years as Delaware’s Elections Commissioner. She delayed her retirement to help prepare for the unprecedented challenges of the 2020 election. Elaine and Election Day have been one and the same for years. She was a public servant and a good friend. We are also sending strength today to Elaine’s second family at the Department of Elections. This is not an easy day for them, but I know they will be working hard to protect our democracy and make Elaine proud.”
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) on Tuesday also released a statement on the passing of the Manloves:
“Martha and I are devastated to learn of the passing of Elaine and her husband, Wayne. Elaine was a consummate public servant, a visionary and incredibly committed to honest and secure elections. One of her greatest professional achievements over her 12 years as Elections Commissioner was modernizing Delaware’s voting machines, as well as working with the education community to bring elections and civics lessons into Delaware’s classrooms. It’s a cruel irony that her passing occurred on the eve of Election Day after she dedicated her life to protecting the integrity of the elections we hold so dear. Elaine and Wayne recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary, and my heart goes out to their children and grandchildren today. May we honor Elaine by ensuring that, this Election Day, every person who wants to vote can vote, and every ballot that is casted is counted. I know that so many across Delaware will be thinking of Elaine today.”