Troopers Probe Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Location: SR 1 (Coastal Highway) southbound, just south of Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth, DE

Date of Occurrence: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 9:30 p.m.

Operators/Vehicles:

Operator #1: 44 year old Key West, Florida man (Victim)

Vehicle #1: 2010 Bash Moped

Operator #2: Dawn R. Layfield, 43, Annapolis, Maryland

Vehicle #2: 2008 Nissan Rogue

Resume:   

Rehoboth- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred last night just west of Rehoboth, DE.

The incident occurred as Dawn R. Layfield, 43, was operating a 2008 Nissan Rogue and was traveling southbound on Coastal Highway in the right hand lane. Layfield’s vehicle struck the rear of a Bash moped that was traveling directly in front of her on southbound Coastal Highway and which was being operated by a 44 year old Key West, Florida man. The force of the collision caused the moped to be projected forward as the male victim was thrown onto the hood of the Nissan. Dawn Layfield then stopped her vehicle which then caused the victim to tumble onto the shoulder of the roadway. The victim was transported from the scene by EMS to the Beebe Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead from the injuries he sustained. The victim’s body was then turned over to the Delaware State Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.  The victim’s name is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin.

Dawn Layfield, who was not injured in the crash, was arrested by investigators for one count each of Vehicular Homicide 1^st Degree and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. She was arraigned at JP Court 3 and then committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution for lack of $7500.00 cash bail.