In a heart-wrenching incident late Wednesday night, a mother and her daughter lost their lives in a multi-vehicle collision on Christiana Road in New Castle, Delaware. The crash, which also left six others injured, occurred around 11:20 p.m., leaving a community in mourning and raising serious concerns about road safety.
The victims have been identified as 29-year-old Karisma Stevens and her 10-year-old daughter, Zamiyah Stevens. The two were part of a family of five children, all of whom were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The Stevens family was traveling in a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, stopped at a traffic light in the eastbound lanes of Christiana Road at the intersection with Airport Road. The family had just finished a food delivery shift—a job Karisma had taken on to supplement her income. As the Dodge entered the intersection, a 2022 Kia K5, reportedly speeding westbound on Christiana Road, failed to stop at the red light. The Kia crashed into the right side of the Dodge, causing the van to spin violently before rolling over.
The impact was severe. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station captured the terrifying moment when one of the vehicles skidded across the roadway, sparks flying as it flipped over. The Kia, after striking the Dodge, continued its destructive path by crossing a cement median and colliding with a 2020 Hyundai Tucson, which was waiting to turn onto Christiana Road from Airport Road.
The immediate aftermath of the collision was chaotic. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where they found Karisma and Zamiyah with fatal injuries. Despite the rapid response, both were pronounced dead at the scene. The other four children in the Dodge were quickly transported to the hospital, with one reported to be in critical condition. The situation remains dire as the family awaits further updates on their condition.
The driver of the Kia, a 26-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, and the driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old woman from Bear, Delaware, were also seriously injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Their identities have not been released by authorities, who are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash.
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The news of the crash has devastated the local community. Karisma Stevens was a recent graduate, having just earned her associate’s degree, and was known as a loving mother dedicated to her five daughters. She was described by family members as hardworking and committed to providing for her children, taking on extra work as a food delivery driver to ensure her family’s needs were met.
Her brother, speaking to reporters, expressed his grief and disbelief at the loss. “She was just trying to do the best she could for her kids,” he said, highlighting the tragedy of losing both a mother and a young daughter in such a senseless manner.
Local residents have also voiced their concerns about the increasing number of traffic accidents in the area. Al Shakeel, a New Castle resident, reflected on the tragedy, saying, “It’s sad to see a fatality like that, someone get killed because someone was speeding. It’s a reminder that we need to be more careful on the roads.”
The Delaware State Police are leading the investigation into the crash. Initial reports suggest that speed was a significant factor in the collision. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether alcohol or other impairing substances played a role, and no charges have been filed as of the latest update.
The stretch of Christiana Road where the accident occurred was closed for approximately six hours as investigators worked to piece together the events. The road has since been reopened, but the scars of the incident remain fresh in the minds of those affected.
This tragic event has underscored the importance of road safety, particularly in areas prone to high-speed travel and busy intersections. As the community mourns the loss of Karisma and Zamiyah Stevens, there is a growing call for measures to prevent such accidents in the future, whether through stricter enforcement of speed limits, better traffic light synchronization, or increased public awareness about the dangers of reckless driving.
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The Stevens family’s story is a poignant reminder of how quickly lives can be changed by a single moment of carelessness. As they navigate this unimaginable loss, the community stands in solidarity, offering support and demanding action to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.