Rehoboth Beach – The Delaware State Police have charged a Millsboro man with Vehicular Assault and other traffic related offenses after he struck a bicyclist and left the scene.
The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. Saturday July 10, 2021 when a 20-year-old Rehoboth woman was riding her bicycle on the westbound shoulder of Rehoboth Beach Ext. (SR1A), just west of Church Street. Derek M. White, 46 of Millsboro, was operating a 2015 Jeep Wrangler westbound on SR1A just behind the bicyclist. White failed to maintain his travel lane and entered the westbound shoulder where the front of the Jeep struck the rear of the bicycle. As a result of the impact, the cyclist was thrown from her bicycle and landed in the entrance to the Henlopen Square shopping complex. The female bicyclist was treated on scene by EMS and then flown by Delaware State Police Aviation (Trooper 2) to Christiana Medical Center with serious injuries.
After the collision, the Jeep fled the scene and continued traveling westbound where it was ultimately located by a witness in the parking lot of Grand Rental Station on Hebron Road. Troopers responded to that location and took Derek White into custody without incident. A DUI investigation ensued and White was transported back to Troop 7 where he was charged with the following:
- Vehicular Assault 1st (Felony)
- Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Injury
- Driving While Suspended or Revoked
- Failure to Have Insurance Identification in Possession
- Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Drug
- Failed to remain within a single lane
- Failure to Report a Collision Resulting in Injury or Death
Derek White was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $3,500.00 cash bond.