Rehoboth Beach accident: Woman who died crossing Coastal Highway identified

The 68-year-old Rehoboth Beach woman who died crossing Coastal Highway on Jan. 8 has been identified.

On Jan. 8 at about 8 p.m., a 2019 GMC Terrain was going north in the left lane of Coastal Highway in the area of Munchy Branch Road. Eduarda De Jesus Andrade De Ayala was believed to be crossing the highway and for an unknown reason, she stepped into the path of the GMC, Delaware State Police said.

The driver couldn't see De Jesus Andrade De Ayala because she was wearing dark clothing and not using a light. As a result, the left front of the GMC hit De Jesus Andrade De Ayala in the left lane, according to police.

Police say the driver, a 29-year-old woman from Rehoboth Beach, was properly restrained, remained at the scene and was not injured.

De Jesus Andrade De Ayala was brought to the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Police closed a few Coastal Highway north lanes for about three hours while the crash was investigated.

Delaware is among the nation's leaders with pedestrian-involved fatal crashes.

The state's number of traffic deaths grew from 24 in 2018 to 30 last year, a rise of about 19%, according to the Office of Highway Safety.

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Have a court or data story idea? Contact Nick Perez at (302) 324-2856, nperez@gannett.com or Twitter @nickdnperez.