A Middletown man whose drunk driving led to accidents and injuries over a July weekend in Rehoboth Beach received a prison sentence in Superior Court.
A judge sentenced Martin Tuohy, 45, to a total of 2 ½ years in prison, followed by a year of probation in exchange for his December 2018 no contest plea to Driving Under the Influence – Third Offense, Reckless Endangering First Degree, and 3 counts of Vehicular Assault Second Degree.
Officials said while driving drunk, Tuohy fled from the scene of his first accident on Rehoboth Avenue, speeding and colliding with several parked cars before hitting a vehicle stopped at a red light. Tuohy continued driving, almost hitting several pedestrians, stopping after causing an accident that sent a family to the hospital, and then hit a light pole.
Original Story
Following a nearly two week investigation, Rehoboth Beach police have made a determination as to what occurred on the evening of July 7th, according to police. As a result of the investigation, police believe Tuohy was operating the blue 2016 Dodge Ram pick-up truck as it left a parking space along the northern shoulder of the second block of Rehoboth Avenue westbound at around 6:15 pm. As he was backing the vehicle out of the space, Tuohy collided with a blue 2017 Subaru Forrester operated by a female from Ashburn, Va. that had stopped to allow Tuohy to back out of the space, according to police.
Officials said after colliding with the Subaru, Tuohy who showed signs of intoxication on the scene, rapidly fled westbound on Rehoboth Avenue. As he did so he moved to the left lane where he collided with an unoccupied red Hyundai parked along the median causing minor damage to the vehicle. Tuohy continued westbound striking an unoccupied red Ford Explorer in the next parking space causing extensive damage to the vehicle pushing it up onto the median and partially on top of an unoccupied Toyota Corolla parked next to it, according to officials. Tuohy then struck an unoccupied silver Ford Fusion that was also parked in the median knocking the bumper completely off the car, said police. As a result of these collisions, it is believed that the left front wheel of Tuohy’s vehicle came off, but he still continued westbound on Rehoboth Avenue.
As he approached the Second Street intersection, the front of Tuohy’s truck collided with the rear of a black Toyota RAV4 occupied by a couple from Norristown, Pa. that was stopped for the red light at the intersection. The collision pushed the Toyota into the intersection, while Tuohy continued to drive westbound onto the sidewalk in front of the Post Office where he collided with a bike rack. The occupants of the Toyota were uninjured.
Tuohy continued westbound exiting the sidewalk into the intersection where he struck a silver Honda Pilot occupied by four individuals from Montoursville, Pa. and Millsboro, Del. The Honda was stopped in the intersection waiting for two females to clear the crosswalk before turning. The front of Tuohy’s pick-up truck struck the rear driver side of the Honda spinning it 180 degrees through the intersection. All four occupants of the Honda were taken to Beebe Medical Campus for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The females in the intersection fled in time to escape injury.
Tuohy still continued westbound again leaving the roadway and driving onto the sidewalk on the west side of the intersection where he struck a light pole and came to a stop. Tuohy was also transported from the scene to Beebe Medical Campus where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
On July 19th, 2018, Tuohy was arrested and charged with 1 count of felony 4th offense driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, 2 counts of felony first degree reckless endangering, 1 count of felony first degree vehicular assault, 3 counts of misdemeanor second degree vehicular assault, and 1 count of leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury, also a misdemeanor.
Tuohy was arraigned and released on $16000.00 unsecured bail.
Martin Tuohy, 45, of Middletown, Del. turned himself into Rehoboth Beach police Thursday evening (07/19/18) and was charged for his alleged actions in the eight vehicle collision that occurred in the second block of Rehoboth Avenue on July 7th, 2018.
