Tuesday October, 6 2026 @ 11:58

Nature: Automatic Crash Notification

Location: 32822-32871 Peninsula Esp, 19966

On Tuesday, October 6^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for an automatic crash notification on the Peninsula Esplande in the development of the Peninsula off of Bay Farm Road.  Additional emergency alerts included the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad.  It was reported as possible vehicle crash and can hear traffic but no response.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Squad 80 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.

Emergency response crews were able to identify a lost or dropped cell phone in the designated area.

All emergency response personnel were authorized to return to their designated facilities and the mobile device was turned over to the Delaware State Police.

What to Do if Your Phone with Crash Detection Was Dropped and Triggered an Alert

If your phone with automated crash detection (e.g., Apple’s Crash Detection, Life360 Critical Alerts) was dropped and the system sent an emergency alert, here’s what to do:

1. Stay on the line if you answer 911.  If the phone automatically called 911, do not hang up. Emergency dispatchers are required to call back if you disconnect, and they may send help based on the automated message.   Instead, clearly explain that it was an accidental trigger (e.g., “I dropped my phone, there’s no crash”)

2. Confirm the alert and location.  If you receive a text or push notification from your phone’s crash detection app (Apple, Life360, etc.), acknowledge it and choose the “No crash” or “False alarm” option if available. This prevents your location from being sent to emergency services.

3. Check your phone’s status.  If the phone is still working, power it on and check:

• Whether it’s in Emergency SOS or Crash Detection mode.

• If it’s connected to CarPlay or an Apple Watch, the call may have been routed through that device.

• If the phone is off or damaged, note the time and location of the drop for your records.

4. Disable or adjust crash detection if needed.  If you want to prevent future false alarms:

• On iPhone: Settings > Emergency SOS → turn off “Call After Severe Crash”.

• On Life360: choose “No crash occurred” before the 5?minute timer, or adjust crash detection settings.

• You can also disable Crash Detection in Settings > Emergency SOS on iOS.

5. Report the false alert if required.  Some 911 centers may log false alarms. If you’re in a jurisdiction where you must, you can report the false alert to the local emergency communications center.