No arrests in rollerblader hit and run

Police are still looking for the driver involved in the March 2 hit-and-run accident that sent a rollerblader to the hospital.

Police said Robert C. Flanagan, 55, of Dover was rollerblading west on Rehoboth Avenue Extended, when he was hit by a vehicle about 8:17 p.m. The driver of the vehicle fled toward Route 1, police said. Flanagan was admitted to Christiana Hospital in critical condition.

On March 6, a spokeswoman for Christiana Care said Flanagan's condition has been upgraded to serious.

Delaware State Police spokesman John Day said police continue to investigate  the accident.

Day said police have received several tips, but he declined to provide further details. “So that the investigation is not compromised or hampered, we will not provide information about its progress,” Day said.

Investigators said Flanagan was wearing a flashing red light and two other lights and was on the shoulder of the road when he was struck. They said they had no information on why Flanagan was in Rehoboth or where he was going when he was struck.

Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks said he is concerned about the rising number of incidents involving cars and pedestrians. He said both drivers and those using bikes, scooters, inline skates or other alternative means of transportation need to be responsible on the roads.

“In Rehoboth, we are lucky because we don't have high speeds, but even so, we have had a slight increase in pedestrian and car accidents,” Banks said. “In some cases, people run across the street outside of crosswalks, or bicyclists jump off curbs in front of cars. We have had near misses.”

Banks said these accidents are preventable in most cases.

“People need to slow down and pay attention,” Banks said.

He said people should know the law. It is illegal to wear headphones while biking, and all bicyclists and others must obey traffic rules, Banks said. Bicyclists must wear illumination devices on both the front and back of bicycles. Bicyclists should travel with traffic, while walkers should walk against traffic. Walkers should carry a flashlight, Banks said.

Delaware State Police are asking anyone who may have any information about this incident to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at Troop 7 at 302-644-5020, Ext. 117. Callers may also provide a tip by texting keyword DSP plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or by calling 800-TIP-3333. Information can also be submitted at tipsubmit.com.