UPDATE: Dover man charged with DUI following fatal crash, victim identified

1/26 UPDATE: Police have identified the victim in this crash as 40-year-old Danny Rankin.

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TOWNSEND, Del. – A Dover man has been charged with DUI following a fatal crash in Townsend Wednesday evening.

At around 5:20 p.m., Delaware State Police say a 2023 Kia Soul was traveling on Route 13 northbound, north of Blackbird Landing Road. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Kia was reportedly traveling in an erratic manner, leading up to the impact with a 40-year-old pedestrian. Police are continuing to investigate whether or not the pedestrian was in the right lane or shoulder of Route 13 northbound at the time of the crash. The pedestrian was wearing bright-reflecting clothing for the dark and unlit road conditions. After the crash, the Kia stopped on the right shoulder and caught fire.

The pedestrian, a Townsend man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Kia was not injured and police say he appeared to be under the influence of a drug. Following a DUI investigation, the driver was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of a drug, possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, driving while suspended, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The passengers of the Kia, a 23-year-old woman and 4-year-old child, were both taken to a nearby hospital via ambulance for non-life threatening injuries.