Wilmington, DE (April 7, 2026) – A 45-year-old man from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was killed Saturday night in a three-vehicle crash on northbound I-495 near 12th Street. The crash occurred around 11:30 p.m. on April 4.
According to preliminary reports, a Kia Optima struck the rear of a Ford Windstar, pushing it into a guardrail. The Ford driver, Mark Barnett, exited the vehicle and was walking on the highway when he was struck by a Ram 1500 pickup driven by a 65-year-old man from Gillett, Pennsylvania, who was not injured. The Kia’s driver fled the scene before troopers arrived.
Barnett was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours while the scene was cleared.
Authorities continue to investigate the crash, and more details will be released as they become available.
Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased.
Understanding Multi-Vehicle Highway Crashes
Highway crashes involving multiple vehicles often result from sudden stops, rear-end collisions, or drivers leaving the roadway. These crashes can be especially dangerous when a vehicle leaves the flow of traffic, and its driver exits the car on the highway.
Pedestrian or driver exposure on busy highways significantly increases the risk of severe injury or death. Emergency responders emphasize the importance of remaining inside a vehicle after a crash until it is safe to exit and alerting other drivers with hazard lights or flares. Traffic can be heavily impacted while responders manage the scene and investigate the crash.
