Steven John Caruso, 18, of 801 Percheron Drive, Bear, died in an automobile accident in Newark.

Mr. Caruso graduated from William Penn High School, where he was a member of the concert choir and assisted in the nurse's office. He was planning to attend Delaware Technical & Community College.

He was a News Journal Co. newspaper carrier and was working his route when the accident occurred. He also worked in sales and customer service for the two years at Pets Emporium in Astro Shopping Center and in Peoples Plaza, Glasgow.

He is survived by his parents, Dominic M. and Faith C. Bell Caruso, with whom he lived; two brothers, David S. of Jensen Beach, Fla., and Daniel M. at home; a sister Cathy M., at home; his paternal grandparents, James and Pat Caruso of Bear; his maternal grandmother, Mary J. Bell of Jensen Beach; and his paternal great-grandmother, Marie Caruso of New Castle.