The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate a vehicle plunging into the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, leaving three dead and a six-year-old missing.
The accident occurred on the south-side lower level, about 1 mile west of the State Route 1 and the William V. Roth Bridge over the canal.
The incident was reported at 9:41 a.m., Sunday when a 911 call was received regarding a vehicle, later confirmed to be a Chevy HHR, going into the water. Multiple agencies including police, fire, EMS, maritime units and dive teams went to the scene.
The first units found a 16-year-old female on the canal bank who was confirmed to have been a passenger in the vehicle, but had been able to exit the vehicle and make her way to shore.
It would later be determined that she was assisted to shore by the 18-year-old male driver of the vehicle, who then went back into the water in an attempt to rescue three remaining passengers
The 18-year-old died during his attempt to rescue the remaining passengers and his body was recovered from the water a short time later. The three unaccounted for passengers were all males, 16, 12 and 6 years old respectively.
The identification of the victims is pending notification of next of kin.
The vehicle was found at 5:00 p.m., the vehicle was recovered. Upon the vehicle being removed from the water, the 16-year-old and the 12-year-old were located in the vehicle and were pronounced dead. The 6-year-old was not located in the vehicle.
The search and related investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Cpl. J. Breen of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit by calling 302-365-8486.
