NEWARK, DE — A Newark man is facing dozens of charges after police said a tractor-trailer struck 12 parked vehicles, a street sign and four mailboxes early Sept. 5 in the Harmony Woods community.
New Castle County police said officers responded at approximately 5:14 a.m. to the 100 block of Melodic Drive for a report of a flatbed tractor-trailer that had struck multiple parked vehicles.
According to police, officers located the driver, identified as Brian Johnston, 53, of Newark, and observed signs of impairment. Police said field sobriety tests indicated Johnston was impaired.
Investigators reported recovering crack cocaine, fentanyl, prescription medications and drug paraphernalia from inside the tractor-trailer.
Police said their investigation determined Johnston had been driving a white International tractor-trailer on Medley Drive when he allegedly struck two parked vehicles.
According to investigators, Johnston then continued onto Duet Drive, where the truck allegedly struck three additional vehicles, before turning onto Melodic Drive and striking two more.
Police said the tractor-trailer then turned onto Acapella Court, where it allegedly struck five additional parked vehicles. Investigators also reported that a street sign and four mailboxes were struck during the incident.
Johnston eventually stopped the tractor-trailer and exited, according to police. Officers and emergency medical personnel later located him on Melodic Drive.
Police reported taking Johnston into custody without further incident and transporting him to New Castle County Police Headquarters.
Johnston was charged with 12 misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of a property-damage collision, 12 misdemeanor counts of failure to provide information at a collision scene, three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of operating a commercial vehicle while impaired by drugs and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was also cited for 12 counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle, 12 counts of failure to report a collision to a police agency, and one count of inattentive driving.
Johnston was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $3,825 secured bail, according to police.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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