NEW CASTLE, DE — A 42-year-old New Castle man faces felony vehicular homicide and DUI charges after Delaware State Police allege he drove through a stop sign and struck a motorcycle Saturday night, fatally injuring its 54-year-old rider.
Police identified the defendant as Samuel Larkin, 42, of New Castle.
At approximately 10:50 p.m. Aug. 15, an Indian Scout motorcycle was traveling north in the right lane of U.S. Route 13 approaching Schafer Boulevard, while a Mazda 6 was traveling west on Schafer Boulevard toward the highway, according to state police.
The preliminary investigation alleges the Mazda failed to stop and struck the motorcycle.
Troopers identified Larkin as the Mazda’s driver and reported observing signs of impairment while speaking with him at the scene. He was taken into custody without incident, according to police.
The motorcycle operator, a 54-year-old New Castle woman, was transported to an area hospital, where she later died. State police withheld her name pending notification of her family.
Larkin was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2, where authorities administered standardized field sobriety tests, according to police.
He was subsequently charged with felony second-degree vehicular homicide — driving under the influence and negligently causing death — as well as driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Larkin was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction on a $5,101 secured bond, police reported.
U.S. Route 13 was closed for approximately three hours while investigators examined and cleared the crash scene.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has related video is asked to contact Master Cpl. R. Kunicki at 302-365-8417. Information may also be provided to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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