Delaware State Police are investigating an accident that has resulted in the death of one person on Route Nine near Asphalt Alley. The Sussex County government announced late Tuesday night that it is in mourning after losing one of its young public servants.

GEORGETOWN, Del. — The Delaware State Police confirm that downed power lines killed a volunteer firefighter trying to help victims of a car accident on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Delaware State Police, at approximately 4:24 p.m., a Chevrolet Malibu was driving east on Route Nine, west of Gravel Hill Road in Georgetown. Police say the Malibu attempted to pass a Toyota Camry driving in the same direction, but sideswiped the Camry. The Malibu then veered off the road and strike a utility pole.

Thomas Berry III, a 23-year-old volunteer firefighter with the Georgetown and Ellendale Fire Companies stopped to help the drivers. According to troopers, while assisting the Malibu driver, the utility pole snapped, bringing down electrical wires. Police say Berry sustained life-threatening injuries from the wires and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Division of Forensic Science will determine the official cause of death.

First responder killed in the line of duty

The Sussex County community mourns the loss of Thomas Wilson Berry III who was killed in the line of duty. Courtesy of Sussex County. 

The driver of the Malibu, a 37-year-old man from Salisbury was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Camry, a 54-year-old woman from Milton was not injured in the crash.

Lewes-Georgetown Highway was closed for approximately 12 hours as authorities conducted their investigation and cleared the scene.

Deadly accident in Georgetown

The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit and Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Z. Spudis at (302) 752-3795. Information can also be provided through a private message to the Delaware State Police on Facebook or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Tags

Locations

Evening Broadcast Journalist

Madeleine has been with Draper Media since 2016, when she first worked as Sussex County Bureau Chief. She helped launch the rebranded CoastTV in 2019. As co-anchor of CoastTV News at 5 and 6, Maddie helps organize the evening newscasts and performs managerial responsibilities such as helping find and assign stories, approving scripts, and making content decisions.

Recommended for you