On Tuesday morning around 10:20 a.m., community members in Clayton, Delaware were shaken when 19-year-old Henry Byler of Clayton lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while walking his bicycle along the shoulder of Wheatley’s Pond Road near Bryn Zion Road.
According to the Delaware State Police, the crash involved a southbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by a 64-year-old Smyrna man. The troopers’ preliminary reconstruction indicates that the vehicle left the southbound travel lane and entered the shoulder where Byler was walking, striking him in the process. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Byler had been walking his bicycle in the shoulder of the road when the crash occurred—an image that adds poignant weight to a tragic morning for the Clayton community. The driver of the Silverado was uninjured and remained at the scene while troopers from Troop 3’s Collision Reconstruction Unit launched an investigation.
Authorities are appealing for help from anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information. They ask people to contact Master Corporal W. Booth at (302) 698-8451, or to leave tips anonymously via the Delaware Crime Stoppers hotline at 1‐800-847-3333 or by private Facebook message through the Delaware State Police page.
In the wake of the incident, the Delaware State Police reminded community members of available support for victims and families facing sudden tragedy. The Delaware Victim Center, through its Victim Services Unit, operates a 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461) and handles email inquiries at [email protected].
The investigation remains active under the Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit as they work to piece together all the facts—road conditions, vehicle trajectory, and witness accounts—to understand exactly how the incident unfolded. Wheatley’s Pond Road was closed for approximately three hours following the crash while the scene was processed.
The loss of Henry Byler rippled deeply through Clayton, a small community where the unexpected death of a young resident brings profound sorrow. As troopers continue their work and await any new leads, residents are urged to remain vigilant and compassionate—supporting one another in a community grappling with grief and seeking answers.
