Police identify woman killed in crash at Rittenhouse Park

Police have identified the woman killed in a crash in Rittenhouse Park as 46-year-old Catherine Spanos, of Newark.

The crash happened at approximately 5 a.m. Saturday along the gravel road that runs between West Chestnut Hill Road and the park's parking area, according to Lt. Andrew Rubin, a spokesman for the Newark Police Department.

Police were called to the park for a report of people arguing, and when officers arrived, they found a Ford F-150 pickup truck that had struck a tree. Inside, they found Spanos deceased in a rear seat.

The driver fled the scene before officers arrived.

“Preliminary investigation determined that the vehicle was exiting the park at an apparent high rate of speed when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the gravel roadway and struck a tree,” Rubin said.

On Monday, Rubin said that police have identified the man who was driving the truck, but authorities did not disclose his name to the public. No charges have been filed; however, the incident remains under investigation.

By law, Newark parks are closed from dusk to dawn. Rittenhouse Park has an automated gate that blocks off the entryway at night, but Rubin said it's not clear if the gate was working or how the truck was able to enter the park.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact Cpl. Robert Vernon at 302-366-7100, ext. 3452, or rvernon@newark.de.us.