The town of New Castle is hurting real deep right now after losing one of its own in a tragic street crash. William Collins was sixty-three years old and well-known around the neighborhood. His life came to a sudden, painful end after he was hit while simply trying to cross the street in his wheelchair. People in town are still having a hard time processing how fast everything happened.
It all went down on a sunny Monday afternoon around two fifty p.m. right on Christiana Road. William was making his way across the street at the intersection of Pleasant Place, heading toward Scottie Lane. He was right inside the marked crosswalk where pedestrians are supposed to be safe. That is when a Nissan Titan truck rolled through heading westbound and struck him right in the middle of the road.
The impact was severe and left William with critical, life-threatening injuries on the pavement. Emergency workers rushed to the scene as fast as they could and got him straight to a nearby hospital. Doctors and nurses did everything humanly possible to save his life through the night. Sadly, his body just could not overcome the trauma, and he passed away the following day.
The driver behind the wheel was a thirty-nine-year-old man driving in from Newark. Authorities noted that the pickup truck had a green light as it approached the intersection. The driver managed to pull over immediately and stayed at the scene without suffering any physical injuries himself. But the sheer shock of the collision left everyone around the intersection stunned.
Over in the community, the grief is heavy and very real. Friends, family, and neighbors are leaning on each other to get through these dark days. People remember William not by the awful accident that took him away, but by his warm spirit and the everyday moments they shared with him. His smile and friendly presence around town are things folks say they will never forget.
State troopers had to shut down Christiana Road for about four full hours while investigators mapped out the whole scene. Crash reconstruction teams swept the pavement for evidence, trying to piece together every single second leading up to the impact. They are currently checking for any nearby surveillance cameras or driver dashcam footage that might clear up remaining questions.
Right now, the Collins family needs all the love and support they can possibly get as they prepare to say their final goodbyes. It is a tough reminder of how fragile life really is for everyone. May William rest in peace, and may his loved ones find comfort in the fond memories he left behind.
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