One seriously injured in three-car Bethany Beach crash
A Magnolia man faces vehicular assault, DUI and other charges following a three-car crash Oct. 2 in Bethany Beach that seriously injured one.
Police responded at 7:55 p.m. to a three-vehicle crash on Route 1 near Beach Cove Square, north of Bethany Beach, and learned Benjamin Herrera, 22, was driving a Dodge Challenger southbound on Route 1 near Beach Cove Square in a reckless manner and at an apparent high rate of speed. At the same time, police said, a Nissan Frontier driven by a 44-year-old Ocean View man was traveling southbound in the left lane on Route 1 and a Chevrolet Colorado driven by a 59-year-old New Castle man was also traveling southbound, in the right lane, both ahead of the Challenger. The Challenger struck the Nissan, pushing it into the right lane, and as a result, the Nissan struck the Chevrolet, causing it to overturn, police said.
When Delaware State Police troopers arrived, they contacted Herrera and smelled an odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath with multiple signs of impairment.
Herrera was taken to an area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. While being transported by ambulance, police said, he threatened a paramedic and an EMT. After he was released from the hospital, he was arrested and taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, driving a vehicle under the influence of a combination of alcohol and any drug, three counts second-degree reckless endangering, two counts terroristic threatening, reckless driving, and failure to have insurance identification in possession.
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $6,300 cash bond.
The New Castle man was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The Ocean View driver and his 7-year-old passenger refused transport to the hospital.
Route 1 southbound was closed while the scene was investigated and cleared.
Troopers ask anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information to contact Trooper K. Lieber at DSP Troop 4 at 302-856-5850; send a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police; or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
