On May 25, Milford Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident involving injury in the 5800 block of Old Shawnee Road. The collision was between a Ford Focus and GMC Sierra as well as property damage to a porch on Old Shawnee Road.
The investigation indicated that the Ford Focus rear-ended the GMC Sierra at a high rate of speed while traveling westbound on Old Shawnee Road west of Evergreen Lane. This resulted in the Ford Focus colliding with the front porch.
Thomas Clendaniel, 37, of Lewes, was identified as the driver of the Ford Focus. Clendaniel fled the scene northbound behind houses on Old Shawnee Road. Delaware State Police Aviation, Milford Police Department’s K9 Unit and officers canvassed the area for Clendaniel but could not locate him.
A passenger in the Ford Focus and the driver of the GMC Sierra sustained injuries. They were transported to local hospitals where they were treated and released. During the investigation, police learned that Clendaniel was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Several hours later, calls came into the police department regarding a suspicious person on Sunset Lane, which is near the accident scene. As officers were responding to Sunset Lane, they located the subject, identified Clendanial and took him into custody.
Clendaniel was charged with his sixth offense of driving under the influence of alcohol; breach of conditions of bond; vehicular assault 2nd degree; vehicular assault third degree and multiple traffic violations. He was presented at Justice of the Peace Court 7, where he was committed to the Department of Corrections on $53,605 cash bail. He was also issued a no-contact order with the victims in the case.
Clendaniel will appear in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas for a preliminary hearing at a later date.
