Magnolia Man Faces Charges After Bethany Beach Crash
BETHANY BEACH, DE—A Magnolia man has been arrested following a three-vehicle crash that left one person seriously injured on October 2.
According to Delaware State Police, 22-year-old Benjamin Herrera was driving a Dodge Challenger southbound on Coastal Highway near Beach Cove Square around 7:55 p.m. in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed. He collided with a Nissan Frontier, driven by a 44-year-old Ocean View man, which then struck a Chevrolet Colorado, causing it to overturn.
Authorities reported that Herrera showed signs of impairment and had the odor of alcohol on his breath upon their arrival. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later threatened a paramedic during transport.
After his release, Herrera was charged with first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault, driving under the influence, three counts of second-degree reckless endangering, two counts of terroristic threatening, reckless driving, and failure to have insurance identification in possession. He was arraigned and held at Sussex Correctional Institution on a $6,300 cash bond.
The New Castle man driving the Chevrolet sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, while the Ocean View driver and his 7-year-old passenger declined medical transport.
Coastal Highway southbound was closed during the investigation. Witnesses or anyone with information are urged to contact Trooper K. Lieber at DSP Troop 4 at (302) 856-5850 or reach out to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.