2 hurt in wrong-way Newark crash

NEWARK - Two men were seriously injured in a wrong-way, head-on crash between an SUV and a car Wednesday night in front of the Deer Park Tavern in Newark, authorities said.

The crash was reported about 9:50 p.m. in the 100 block of W. Main St.

A 44-year-old man who was driving a Dodge Durango was eastbound on West Main Street at high speed and failed to make a right turn as required onto South Main Street, but continued into the section of West Main where traffic is one-way heading west, city police said.

There, he collided with a westbound Toyota Prius.

The Durango's driver was trapped in the vehicle about 10 minutes before being extricated by firefighters from Aetna Hose Hook & Ladder Company, said Cpl. Abigail Haas of New Castle County paramedics.

She said the man was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital in Stanton with head and possible internal injuries.

The driver of the Prius, a 66-year-old man, also was treated by paramedics and taken to Christiana with head and lower extremity injuries, Haas said.

Newark police Master Cpl. Gerald Bryda said the driver of the Prius was undergoing surgery for lower body injuries.

Bryda initially said that the Durango's driver had been released from the hospital, but then amended that to say both drivers remained in Christiana.

Police are still investigating the crash and no charges have been filed.

West Main was closed about 3 hours as police investigated and the wreckage was cleared.

Contact News Delivery Editor Jon P. Zaimes at (302) 324-2813 or jzaimes@delawareonline.com. On Twitter, @JZDelaware.