BETHANY, DE – A fatal accident involving a bicyclist on Coastal Highway near Bethany is currently under investigation by the Delaware State Police.
The incident occurred on October 3, 2023, around 10:47 a.m. A 71-year-old bicyclist from Hockessin was riding southward on the southbound shoulder of Coastal Highway, slightly south of the Indian River Inlet Bridge. Concurrently, a 2020 Lexus was advancing in the southbound left lane. In a sudden turn of events, the bicyclist swerved left, crossing over from the right lane to the left lane, directly in the path of the Lexus. This maneuver led to a collision, causing the bicyclist to be thrown from his bicycle upon impact with the car’s front.
Though the bicyclist was wearing protective gear, including a helmet, he sustained grave injuries. He was rushed to a medical facility, but sadly, two days post-accident, on October 5, he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are withholding the victim’s identity until his family is informed. In contrast, the Lexus’s driver, a 62-year-old man from Ocean View, remained unscathed in the crash.
In the aftermath of the accident, both southbound lanes of the Coastal Highway had to be shut down for an estimated duration of 2.5 hours. This closure was necessary for investigators to comprehensively examine the scene and ensure the road was free of any hazardous debris.