Two Pedestrians Struck in Dewey Beach Crosswalk; Driver Arrested at Scene for DUI
Dewey Beach, DE - Two people were injured early Sunday morning after a car hit them in a marked crosswalk in Dewey Beach, Delaware. One of the victims was critically injured and airlifted to a trauma center. A second driver was arrested at the scene after nearly striking a fire police officer directing traffic.
The Dewey Beach Police Department is investigating the collision, which happened on May 3, 2026, at around 1:54 a.m. A 64-year-old man from Largo, Florida, was driving a Toyota Prius southbound on Coastal Highway near New Orleans Street when the car struck two pedestrians who were crossing in a westerly direction through a marked crosswalk.
The pedestrian-activated flashing yellow beacons at the crosswalk, known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or RRFBs, were not activated at the time of the crash. The Toyota Prius failed to yield the right of way to the pedestrians.
Several Dewey Beach officers were already in the area for an unrelated complaint and immediately provided medical aid to the victims.
A 25-year-old man from Lewes suffered minor injuries and was taken by EMS to a nearby hospital. He has since been released. A 22-year-old woman from Georgetown suffered critical injuries and was flown to Christiana Medical Center, where she remains admitted.
The driver of the Toyota Prius stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He was properly restrained during the crash and was not injured. Charges related to the collision are pending the outcome of the investigation.
The southbound lanes of Coastal Highway were closed for about two hours while police investigated and cleared the scene.
While officers were managing the road closure, a second driver made the situation worse. A Ford Focus traveling southbound on Coastal Highway ignored a fire police officer who was directing traffic near Saulsbury Street.
The vehicle nearly struck the officer and entered the active collision scene. Several first responders had to move across the median to get out of the way of the vehicle to prevent being struck.
Officers stopped the Ford Focus and removed the driver, who had tried to lock himself inside the vehicle. He was identified as Christian McPoyle, 26, of Dover, Delaware. Officers observed signs of impairment.
McPoyle was placed under arrest and taken to the Dewey Beach Police Department, where a search warrant was obtained for his blood. He was charged with the following misdemeanor offenses and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on an intoxication hold:
Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving, Driving While Suspended or Revoked, and Related Traffic Offenses.
Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement assisted with both investigations.
The Dewey Beach Police Department says its investigation into the original collision is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the department.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
