New Castle, DE (April 23, 2026) – A 71-year-old man was struck and killed along Route 13 on Wednesday, April 22, just before 10 p.m. The collision occurred in the southbound lanes of Route 13 near Bacon Avenue in the Wilmington Manor area.
Authorities say the man had stepped into the roadway from the Manor Park Shopping Center when a Dodge Ram truck struck him. The driver of the truck, a 51-year-old, was not hurt and stayed at the scene to speak with emergency units.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, though his identity has not been released.
The crash remains under investigation, and more details will be made available as they become known.
We extend our sincere condolences to the victim’s family during this difficult time.
How Do Pedestrian Fatalities on Delaware Highways Typically Unfold?
Pedestrian crashes on multi-lane highways like Route 13 often occur when a person enters a roadway outside of a marked crosswalk or intersection. At night, low visibility makes it much harder for drivers to spot someone on foot in time to stop safely. These conditions can turn even a brief step into traffic into a fatal situation.
Route 13 is a heavily traveled commercial corridor that runs through several densely developed areas of New Castle County. The stretch near shopping centers experiences a mix of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, which can create unpredictable situations, especially after dark.
When a pedestrian is struck on a highway, the circumstances leading up to the crash, including where the person entered the road and the speed of the vehicle, are typically reviewed as part of the official record.
