Delaware State Police Saturday formally identified the five family members killed in a crash on Route 1. the accident took place in Odessa-Townsend area along Route 1. Four of the victims were not using restraints.
Dead at the scene was 61-year-old Audie Trinidad, 20-year-old Kaitlyn N. Trinidad. Also killed in the crash were his 17-year-old daughter and 13-year-old twins. Trinidad’s wife and the mother of the children remains in the hospital. NorthJersey.com and other outlets released the names of the minor children and mother as well as other information on the family. All were from Teaneck, NJ.
The driver of the Ford F-350 has been identified as 44-year-old Alvin S. Hubbard Jr. of East New Market, MD.
The driver of the Mercury Sable as been identified as 24-year old Brian C. Kern of Bethlehem PA.
No charges have been filed at present.
The initial investigation determined that on Friday a 3:47 p.m., a 2007 Ford F-350 work truck on a pickup frame was traveling southbound, in the left lane Route 1 in the vicinity of Noxontown Road, troopers reported.
A 2002 Mercury Sable was traveling northbound on Rt. 1 just north of Pine Tree Road, and a 1998 Toyota Sienna was traveling a short distance behind the Sable.
For reasons that have yet to be determined, the Ford truck failed to stay in the southbound lanes of travel and crossed over the grassy median and into the northbound lanes of travel on Route 1.
The front driver’s side of the work truck struck the left rear side of the Sable, causing the car to spin out of control and come to a rest in an embankment.
The F-350 continued out of control southbound in the northbound lanes, with the front of the Sienna struck the passengers side of the F-350. The impact caused both vehicles to end up in a ditch.
The driver of the Ford truck, a 44-year-old man from East New Market, MD, was taken to a local area hospital where he was treated and released with non-life threatening injuries.
He was properly restrained and it has not been determined if driving while driving under the influence was a factor, troopers reported.
His passenger, a 30-year-old man from Hurlock, MD, was properly restrained and was also transported to a local area hospital where he was treated and released with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Sable, a 24-year-old man from Bethlehem PA, was transported to a local area hospital where he was treated and released with non-life threatening injuries. He was properly restrained.
First responder helicopters evacuated victims.
Audie Trinidad, the driver of the Sienna, was wearing a shoulder harness and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Also in the vehicle were his four daughters, who were not wearing restraints and were pronounced deceased at the scene. His 53-year-old wife, was properly restrained in the front passenger seat and was transported to a local area hospital where she was admitted with serious injuries.
Southbound State Route 1 Highway in the area of Pine Tree Road was closed for approximately 90 minutes and the northbound lanes were closed for approximately 5 hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.
The crash continues to remain under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. All names are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin and family members.
The horrific nature of the accident led State Police to announce that the Delaware Victim Center is available to offer support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1800 842-8461). You can also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us.
