Alleged Drunk Driver Strikes Pedestrian Then Flees

Location: Southbound U.S. 13 north of Paddock Road, north of Smyrna, DE
Date of Occurrence: Saturday May 22, 2010 at 1:20 p.m.
Persons and Vehicle Involved:

Pedestrian – James Tsakalas, 81, Harve de Grace, MD
Op 1 – Edward A. Hicks, 38, Clayton, DE
Veh 1 – 2008 Chevrolet pickup truck

Resume:

Delaware State Police have arrested an alleged drunk driver after he ran down a roadside vendor.

Tsakalas was selling lawn ornaments on the southbound shoulder of US 13 just north of the Kent County yesterday at 1:20 in the afternoon. Hicks was operating a pickup truck southbound and ran off the shoulder striking Tsakalas’ car, his stand and running over him before steering back on US 13. Hicks then fled the scene and was last seen turning down Joe Goldsborough Road.

Tsakalas was flown to Christiana Hospital with fractured ribs and lacerations to the face and torso. He was last listed in stable condition.

He was later stopped in Kent County by a Clayton Police Officer and was turned over to state troopers.

Hicks was charged with DUI, Vehicular Assault 2nd and multiple traffic offenses. No bail information was available at the time of this release.