A crash just after sunset Monday was fatal to a woman driving a moped on U.S. 74-76 in Delco.
The Highway Patrol and Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire Rescue Chief Steve Camlin said the moped was traveling east in the 23000 block of the highway around 8:24 p.m. when she was struck in the rear by a Dodge Caravan driven by Hope Marie Agler, 42, of Burgaw.
Camlin said the driver of the moped was thrown forward and died on the scene. She has been identified as Tammy Gore Vargas 53, of Dew Oil Plant Road, Delco.
Sgt. J. Morton of the Highway Patrol said Trooper M.L. Cartrette investigated the crash. A light was found on the rear of the moped after the wreckage was removed from the van, Camlin said, but the woman was apparently not wearing any additional reflective material. There was no sign of an additional reflector on the moped. The woman was wearing a DOT approved helmet and the moped had a functioning taillight.
Agler is thought to have been traveling the posted speed limit of 55 mph when she struck the moped. The impact was so hard the moped was lodged in the front of the van, Morton said. The vehicles came to final rest in the eastbound travel lanes, which were blocked for hours while the crash scene was cleared.
Agler was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
“While we never want to use a tragedy to place blame,” an ADR Fire-Rescue post on social media said, “incidents like this are an important reminder of just how vulnerable moped, scooter, and motorcycle riders are when sharing the road with larger vehicles.
“Visibility can make a life-saving difference,” the post continued. “If you ride a moped or scooter, especially at night, please take a few extra minutes to make sure both you and your vehicle can be easily seen.
“And for those driving cars and trucks: please look twice. Mopeds and motorcycles are smaller, can be difficult to judge from a distance, and may be much harder to see after dark. Give riders plenty of following distance and space when passing.
Please be safe, be visible, and watch out for one another.”
