State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Division of State Police

Superintendent Robert M. Coupe

DSP News Release: Friday, August 07, 2009- Tractor Trailer Drive Ontop of BMW

Location: Route 141 at East Commons Boulevard in New Castle, Delaware, New Castle County

Date of Occurrence: Friday, August 07, 2009, at 10:21 a.m.

Resume: Troopers and emergency personnel responded today to Route 141 northbound and East Commons Boulevard for a two vehicle crash. 

In this case, a 1995 BMW (operated by David Witwer, 39, of Elkton, Maryland) was in the right lane on East Commons Boulevard and prepared to make a right turn onto Route 141 northbound. 

A 1996 Freightliner tractor trailer (operated by Gordon Richardson, 59, of Kearneysville, West Virginia) was positioned to the left of the BMW. The tractor trailer then executed a right turn from this center lane and started to head onto Route 141 northbound. 

As the tractor trailer executed its turn, it drove right overtop of the BMW.  The operator of the rig advised he did not see the car and that he was making a wide right turn from the center lane because of the length of his trailer. 

Mr. Witwer was transported to Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Mr. Richardson was cited with Improper Turn.  He was not injured.

The roadway was completely shut down for approximately an hour. 

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