Two people died in a collision on Route 13 near the Smyrna Rest Area Thursday at about 4:30 p.m.
The incident started when Mark Bednash, 53, of Newark was driving a Ford Explorer south on Route 1, reportedly in an erratic manner, police said. He allegedly struck several vehicles on Route 1 then exited onto Route 13 southbound just north of the Smyrna Rest Area.
On Route 13, Bednash lost control of his vehicle, veered left into the northbound lanes, and struck a Subaru that was traveling north on Route 13. The vehicles wedged together and skidded off the roadway.
The crash killed both the driver and a passenger in the Subaru. The driver of the Subaru was Christopher Sturmfels, 42, of Middletown, and the passenger was Michael T. Kriner, 47, of Newark. They were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Bednash, the driver of the Explorer, was flown from the scene by State Police helicopter to Christiana Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.
This crash remains under investigation.
Traffic at Route 13 and Duck Creek Road was delayed for about five hours, police said.
