Beach News now open!3RD DWI: WILMINGTON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR VEHICULAR ASSAULT

DEWEY POLICE SEARCHING FOR HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT

POLICE TAKE MAN INTO CUSTODY AFTER STRIKING FEMALE PEDESTRIAN

Rehoboth Beach police took this man into custody after he allegedly drove his car into a 39-year-old female pedestrian in a parking space in the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue around 12:40 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day. She was taken to the hospital with what was described as a minor injury to the knee. No word yet from police on any charges.

3RD DWI: WILMINGTON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR VEHICULAR ASSAULT

THE FACE OF DUMB AND DRUNK

Rehoboth Beach police arrested a 36-year-old woman from Wilmington this past Saturday and have charged her with vehicular assault and 3rd-offense DUI among other charges after striking a pedestrian with her vehicle in the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue, police said.

Just before 9 p.m., police say officers responded to the second block of Rehoboth Avenue near 2nd Street where a pedestrian reported that her foot had been run over by a vehicle. Upon arrival, police made contact with all parties involved. The victim, a 44-year-old female from Baltimore, was treated by EMS personnel on scene but declined an ambulance to the hospital.

Police learned that the victim was a passenger in a vehicle searching for parking in the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue. When the occupants observed what they believed to be a vehicle leaving a parking space, the victim exited her vehicle and contacted the party to confirm they were leaving. In the process of returning to her vehicle, while crossing Rehoboth Avenue, the victim was struck by a silver Toyota Corolla driven by the suspect, later identified as Deaira M. Barnhart. Police say Barnhart drove the passenger side tires of the Corolla over the victim’s foot and struck her knee.

Barnhart, who had two children inside the vehicle, did not stop at the scene and drove west on Rehoboth Avenue, police said. The victim was able to get back into the passenger compartment of her vehicle and follow Barnhart. At the intersection of Rehoboth Avenue and 2nd Street, Barnhart came to a stop at the red light and occupants of the victim’s vehicle were able to get Barnhart to stop.

Upon approaching Barnhart’s vehicle, police say officers observed that she showed signs of intoxication. Barnhart was administered field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI-alcohol. She was taken to the police station for additional testing where further investigation revealed that she had two prior alcohol-related driving convictions making this her third offense, a felony in Delaware, police said.

Barnhart was arrested and charged with felony DUI-alcohol, endangering the welfare of a child while DUI, 3rd-degree vehicular assault, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury, failure to report a collision involving alcohol and no proof of insurance. She was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $9501 cash secured bail.

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