State of Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Division of State Police

Superintendent Robert M. Coupe

DSP News Release: Tuesday, August 18, 2009- Vehicle Disintegrates in Three Car Crash

Location:  Westbound lanes of Route 273, just east of Hares Corner, New Castle, Delaware, New Castle County

DATE and TIME: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at 1:56 p.m.

Resume: Earlier this afternoon, Troopers and emergency personnel responded to Route 273 westbound, east of Hares Corner, for a three vehicle crash. 

A 1967 Plymouth GTX (operated by Phillip Volpe, 65, of New Castle, Delaware) was traveling eastbound on Route 273, east of Route 13, at a high rate of speed.  The operator lost control and the car began to rotate.  The Plymouth crossed the center median and continued over into the westbound lanes where it struck a moving 2007 Jeep Liberty (operated by Wendy McNeil, 43, of Elizabeth, New Jersey).

With this impact, the Plymouth simply came apart.  Witnesses at the scene told Troopers that parts of the car seem to go in multiple different directions, including one of the axles.  The main portion of the car continued forward where it struck a moving 2003 Toyota Carolla (operated by Catherine Lazarczyk, 45, of Middletown, Delaware). 

Ms. McNeil and Mr. Volpe were transported from the scene to Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Luckily, none of the five occupants in the Toyota were injured, although they were reportedly shaken up.

The roadway was shut down for approximately 90 minutes. Mr. Volpe was cited with Reckless Driving.  

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