Lewes man faces charges in moped crash

A Lewes man faces DUI and vehicular assault charges July 16 after police say he ran into a moped near Rehoboth Beach, sending the rider to the hospital in critical condition.

Matthew Gleason, 46, was driving a 2005 Honda Element at 7:37 p.m. southbound on Bayside Outlet Drive when he failed to stop at a posted stop sign at Shuttle Road, said Sr. Cpl. Jason Hatchell of the Delaware State Police.

A group of seven mopeds was traveling westbound on Shuttle Road, he said, and one moped crashed into the side of the Honda, rolling onto its side and coming to rest in the middle of the intersection. Hatchell said the driver remained seated on the moped during the crash. He was not wearing a helmet, Hatchell said, and he was airlifted to Christiana Hospital in critical condition. The other mopeds safely avoided the crash, he said.

Gleason was properly restrained and not injured as a result of the collision.

Further investigation determined that Gleason was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, and a computer check revealed that he had two prior DUI convictions, Hatchell said.

Gleason was transported to Troop 7 and charged with felony first-degree vehicular assault, felony third-offense DUI, and failure to stop at a stop sign. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $5,050 cash bond.

The intersection of Shuttle Road and Bayside Outlet Drive was closed for about three hours while the crash was investigated.