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Oct 31, 2018
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Brandan H. Ellwanger, 42, of Newark, Del. was arrested Sunday (10/28/18) afternoon for a third offense of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol after striking a parked vehicle along Rehoboth Avenue westbound and fleeing the scene of the collision.
Just before 1:00pm Rehoboth Beach Police responded to the third block of Rehoboth Avenue for a report of a hit and run collision. As a result of an on scene investigation, officers determined that Ellwanger, who was operating a silver Pontiac Torrent with Delaware registration, was attempting to make a u-turn from Rehoboth Avenue eastbound onto Rehoboth Avenue westbound when during the turn his vehicle left the roadway striking a white GMC Yukon parked along the north shoulder of the roadway. Witnesses told police that Ellwanger then backed up and fled the scene west on Rehoboth Avenue.
Approximately 40 minutes after the collision, Ellwanger called the police and informed them that he had been involved in a collision. Police responded to his location and determined that he was the individual who had struck the parked vehicle. During their interactions with Ellwanger, officers observed that he showed signs of intoxication. Subsequently, Ellwanger was administered standardized field sobriety tests and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Ellwanger was transported back to the Rehoboth Beach Police Department for further testing at which time officers determined that he had two prior DUI related convictions making this his third offense and a felony.
Ellwanger was arrested and charged with 1 count of felony third offense driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, 1 count of leaving the scene of a property damage collision, 1 count of failure to provide information at an accident scene, 1 count of failure to stay in lane, 1 count of failure to have insurance identification, 1 count of failure to have registration card in possession, and 1 count of failure to report change of address.
Ellwanger was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $2303.00 secured bail.
Release by PIO Lt. Jaime Riddle.
