Milford Central Academy Principal Dies in Crash, 10-Year Old Daughter in Critical Condition FREDERICA, Del.- Delaware State Police say a Camden woman has died after being involved in a car crash. That woman was 42-year old Tricia Martin, principal of Milford Central Academy. Investigators say the crash happened around 10:40 p.m. Friday in Frederica. Authorities say Martin lost control of her Acura MDX while traveling westbound on Barratts Chapel Road just east of McGinnis Pond Road. Troopers say Martin's vehicle ran off the roadway where it drove along a ditch line and then hit a telephone box and a fence. The vehicle then struck an embankment. That forced it to overturn on its side and come to a stop back in the roadway facing westbound in the eastbound lane. Authorities say while Martin was still inside the vehicle, her 10-year-old daughter managed to get out and attempted to ask for help from a passing vehicle. Investigators say 49-year-old Richard Triola, of Magnolia, was driving a Yukon eastbound on Barratts Chapel Road east of McGinnis Pond Road approaching the scene. Troopers say his truck hit the Acura and pushed it into a ditch off where it rotated right side up. Martin was ejected. Investigators say her daughter, who was standing in the roadway, was hit by one of the vehicles which propelled her body into the grass. Martin was flown to Christiana Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Her daughter was initially transported to Kent General Hospital before being transferred to A. I. duPont Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. Triola, who was properly restrained, was also taken to Kent General where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The road was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared. Those who knew Martin are expressing their condolences. "The entire district is saddened by this. Patricia was a well-admired principal. I'm sure her students and staff are grieving for right now, as is the entire district. It's just hard to lose someone you've worked with that closely," said Phyllis Kohel, superintendent of the Milford School District. According to the district's website, Martin worked in the Milford school district for 12 years. She also worked in the Caesar Rodney School District for six months. "She was a fantastic principal. She knew every student's name in the building, and her faculty always spoke very highly of her," said board member Hunter Emory. Kohel says a crisis team has been called and will be meeting with staff Sunday evening.

• published: 13 Apr 2014
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