LEWES, DE (November 11, 2025) — Two people from Bel Air, Maryland died Friday afternoon in a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Route 1 in Sussex County. Delaware State Police identified the victims as 62-year-old Charlene Broccolo and 64-year-old Albert Broccolo.
Accident Details: Delaware State Police reported that the crash occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 7 on Coastal Highway (Route 1), in the right lane south of Hudson Road. A Ford Edge, a Nissan Altima, a BMW X2, and a BMW 135 were traveling southbound in the right lane, slowing or stopped for traffic ahead.
At the same time, a Peterbilt dump truck was traveling southbound in the right lane on Coastal Highway approaching the traffic. The preliminary investigation showed that the Peterbilt failed to slow for the traffic ahead.
As a result, the front of the Peterbilt struck the rear of the Ford, causing a chain-reaction collision with the other three vehicles.
Charlene Broccolo, the driver of the Ford, was taken to an area hospital where she died from her injuries. Albert Broccolo, a passenger in the Ford, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Nissan, a 57-year-old man from Millsboro, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the BMW X2, a 75-year-old woman from Milton, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Peterbilt, a 27-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the BMW 135, a 74-year-old man from Lewes, Delaware, was not injured.
Investigation: Delaware State Police continue to investigate the fatal crash. The Delaware Department of Transportation announced an extended closure of Route 1 near Milton following the crash. DSP said the closure lasted about five hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
Southbound traffic was directed onto Hudson Road following the incident, and the left lane of Route 1 northbound was closed north of Hudson Fields. Delaware State Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them at 302-703-3264.
Legal Considerations: Rear-end collisions involving commercial dump trucks often result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities due to the massive weight and momentum of these vehicles. When a commercial driver fails to slow for stopped or slowing traffic, it may constitute negligence or reckless driving depending on the circumstances.
Commercial truck drivers are required to maintain safe following distances and remain alert to traffic conditions ahead. Failure to do so can result in civil liability for the driver and the trucking company that employs them. Chain-reaction crashes demonstrate how one driver’s negligence can harm multiple innocent parties.
Families who lose loved ones in truck crashes can file wrongful death claims seeking compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs, lost income, and the emotional devastation of losing family members. When multiple family members die in the same crash, the surviving family faces compounded grief and financial hardship that these claims aim to address.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Charlene and Albert Broccolo as they mourn this heartbreaking tragedy.
Source: First State Update / WBOC