Police have not announced a cause as investigators examine a collision that seriously injured a woman and 4-year-old boy.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Witness accounts and neighborhood video are providing an early picture of a Wilmington dump truck crash that seriously injured a 26-year-old woman and a 4-year-old boy, while police continue working to determine exactly what happened.
The collision occurred around 11:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, in the 100 block of South Union Street. Authorities said both pedestrians suffered serious injuries, although their exact conditions were not immediately available. Police had also not confirmed whether the woman and child are related.
People who witnessed the incident told Action News that the boy ran into the street and that the woman tried to grab him before they were struck. Investigators had not publicly confirmed that sequence as their final determination, making the witness descriptions part of an investigation that remained open Friday evening.
Doorbell camera footage shared by a nearby resident captured moments immediately after the impact and showed the dump truck skidding to a stop. The recording offered investigators another potential source of information but did not, on its own, establish how the collision began or who had the right of way.
One witness described seeing the woman seriously hurt and the boy crying as people nearby tried to calm them. The witness said the scene was difficult to watch and prompted an emotional reaction.
The crash also unsettled neighbors in the area. Wilmington resident Niki Kendall said she lives around the corner and has a young child of her own, making the incident especially concerning to her.
The truck driver stayed at the scene and was cooperating with the investigation, authorities said. Police had not announced any charges, cited any traffic violation or publicly stated that the driver committed wrongdoing.
Several important questions remained unanswered, including the precise movements of the pedestrians and truck before the impact and whether investigators have identified any contributing factors. Police had not released findings involving speed, visibility or other possible circumstances surrounding the crash.
Wilmington police said the investigation was continuing. No further update on the victims’ medical conditions or the investigative findings had been announced by Friday evening.
Author note: Last updated August 8, 2026.