MILTON, Del. - A car was towed from a ditch full of water after crashing on Route 5 just outside of Milton early Wednesday morning.
According to Delaware State Police, troopers responded to an accident on Route 5 around 4:15 a.m. just north of Sam Lucas Road, near Mariner Middle School. They say an SUV went off the road and was immersed in water that had accumulated during Tuesday night's storms.
The driver, a 31-year-old man from Felton, was not hurt, however a Coastal Towing truck driver was injured while trying to remove the car. He was transported by Milton EMS to an area hospital and his current condition is unavailable.
A second Coastal Towing team removed the car just before 9 a.m.
WET ROADS DRIVING SAFETY
With winter weather upon us and flooding a common problem across Delmarva, AAA reminds drivers to plan ahead and drive with caution during and after heavy rain.
"Motorists view rain storms as more of an inconvenience than a hazard," said Jana Tidwell, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "As a result, drivers tend to be less cautious than they should be."
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, more than one million traffic crashes occur on wet pavement each year. Drivers are encouraged to:
- Never drive through standing water.
- Slow down.
- Increase following distance.
- Avoid cruise control.
- Brake early.
- Leave stalled vehicles or those caught in rising water for higher ground.