Marydel man killed in tragic crash on Route 1

A Marydel man is dead following a tragic crash early Sunday morning on Route 1 near Middletown.

34-year-old Esteban Pantoja-Gordillo, of Marydel, was traveling southbound on Route 1, south of Middletown, when for unknown reasons his car left the east side of the road and struck a guardrail in the center median.

Gordillo got out of his vehicle after the initial collision and started walking southbound on Route 1 in the right lane, just south of mile marker 82, when he was struck by a vehicle.

Gordillo, who was wearing all dark, non-reflective clothing and not carrying a light, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say impairment on his behalf is undetermined at this time.

Route 1 southbound was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and later cleared.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Cpl. J. Breen of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit by calling 302-365-8486 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.