Lewes man charged with 6th DUI following hit-and-run crash in Milton

MILTON, Del. – A Lewes man is behind bars on his 6th DUI and other charges following a crash Wednesday evening in Milton.

At around 6:30 p.m., troopers were called to Hudson Road near Lewes Georgetown Highway in Milton for a reported crash. When they arrived at the scene, troopers learned that the driver of a Chevrolet S10, later identified as 37-year-old Thomas Clendaniel, fled the scene on foot. He was found a short time later walking eastbound on the shoulder of Lewes Georgetown Highway. Troopers reportedly observed multiple signs of impairment and smelled the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Clendaniel, who refused Standardized Field Sobriety tests. He was subsequently taken into custody, and a legal blood draw for DUI was conducted. A subsequent computer check also revealed that Clendaniel had five previous DUI convictions and was driving on a suspended/revoked license at the time of the crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Clendaniel was driving southbound on Hudson Road, approaching Lewes Georgetown Highway, when he allegedly rear-ended a Nissan Sentra, causing minor injuries to the 57-year-old woman who was driving and her two passengers. All three occupants in the Nissan were taken to an area hospital for minor injuries.

Clendaniel was held at SCI on a $13,500 secured bond after being charged with 6th offense DUI, three counts of second degree vehicular assault, drunk on a highway, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury, driving while suspended or revoked, and other traffic related offenses.