Driver charged, woman killed after car crashes into truck in Del., police say

A driver faces charges after her passenger was killed in a crash involving their vehicle and a truck near the Wilmington Airport in New Castle, Delaware, state police said.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, around 1 a.m., a Kentworth tractor trailer was traveling southbound in the left middle lane of North DuPont Highway and approaching Christiana Road. At the same time, Ashley Wright, 36, of Dover, Delaware, was driving a Lexus ES 350 behind the truck.

Investigators said Wright failed to slow down and crashed into the back of the truck. The impact caused Wright’s Lexus to spin, slide over a concrete median and crash into a traffic sign, according to state police. Footage from NBC10 captured the mangled Lexus, broken glass on the road and the back left tire of the truck that was ripped off.

Wright’s passenger, a 36-year-old woman from New Castle, Delaware, was ejected during the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are not revealing her name pending the notification of her family members.

Wright was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police said she showed signs of impairment at the time of the crash. After she was released from the hospital, Wright was charged with vehicular homicide and other related offenses. She was arraigned and then released after posting $10,102 cash bond.

The truck driver involved in the crash was not injured, police said.