Pedestrian, motorcyclist killed in separate crashes near New Castle Wednesday night

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect a correction from Delaware State Police, clarifying that it was actually the motorcyclist heading south on South Dupont Highway with the green light, while the Mazda was heading north and turning left through the red light.

Two men were killed in separate crashes near New Castle on Wednesday night, according to Delaware State Police.

Neither of their names was released by police as of midday Thursday.

Hit-and-run crash leaves motorcyclist dead

Police said that a 31-year-old motorcyclist from Wilmington was killed in a hit-and-run at 9:41 p.m. on South Dupont Highway.

The man was heading south on a gray 2020 Kawasaki ZX-9R toward Second Avenue near New Castle, according to police. At the same time, the unidentified driver of a blue 2021 Mazda CX-5 heading north on South Dupont Highway entered the same intersection.

State police said the Mazda went around a car that was stopped in the left-turn lane at the red light and began to turn left onto Second Avenue. The motorcyclist, who police said had a green light, also drove through the intersection and was hit by the Mazda.

The motorcyclist was thrown off the bike, and the Mazda stopped on the shoulder of the road, according to police. The driver then got out of the car and began walking south on South Dupont Highway, and police have not yet found them.

The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The road was closed for about three hours.

Pedestrian fatally hit near New Castle

About two hours later, a 40-year-old pedestrian from New Castle was fatally hit by a car on New Castle Avenue (Route 9) near New Castle, Delaware State Police said.

Police said that the man was walking north on the right shoulder of Route 9 just past West Avenue at 11:46 p.m. At the same time, a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving north in the right northbound lane of Route 9.

Police said the man walked directly into the path of the Jeep as it passed, and he was fatally hit by the front of the car.

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Route 9 was closed between West Avenue and Hillview Drive for about three hours Wednesday night, and police are still investigating the incident.

Police looking for information

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call Master Cpl. J. Forester at 302-365-8485.

Anyone with information about the pedestrian crash is asked to call Cpl. Santangelo at 302-633-5000.

Tips can also be sent to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.