New Castle, DE – The New Castle community is mourning the loss of Henry Ashley, 36, who tragically lost her life in a crash early Saturday morning, November 15, 2025, on North DuPont Highway near Christiana Road.
According to Delaware State Police, a Kenworth tractor-trailer was traveling south around 1:00 a.m. when a Lexus ES 350, approaching from behind, failed to slow. The Lexus struck the left rear of the trailer, spun across a raised concrete median, and collided with a traffic sign. Henry Ashley was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Lexus, Ashley Wright, of Dover, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and showed signs of impairment. The tractor-trailer driver, a 32-year-old man from Delaware City, was unharmed.
Southbound lanes of North DuPont Highway were closed for approximately six hours as authorities investigated the scene. After being released from the hospital, Wright was charged with Second-Degree Vehicular Homicide, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, and related traffic offenses. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court Eleven and released on a $10,102 cash bond.
Police are urging anyone with information related to the crash to contact the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit at 302-365-8483.
Henry Ashley is remembered by friends and family as a valued member of the community, whose loss is deeply felt. The New Castle News Beacon extends condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time.
Disclaimer: All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
