Troopers Investigate Fatal Crash, Rehoboth

Location:
Coastal Highway (SR 1) north of Rehoboth Avenue, 1 mile north of Rehoboth, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence:
Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 2:08 a.m.

Operators and Vehicles:
Operator #1: Russell E. Henman, 44, Snow Hill, MD (Bicyclist)

Operator #2: Brian C. Meegan, 38, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Vehicle #2: 2003 Jeep Wrangler

Resume:
Rehoboth- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash in which a bicyclist was killed that happened early this morning.

The crash happened at approximately 2:08 a.m. this morning (7/1) as Brian Meegan, 38, was operating a 2003 Jeep Wrangler and was traveling westbound on Rehoboth Avenue preparing to merge onto Coastal Highway north of Rehoboth. Meegan failed to see bicyclist Russell E. Henman, 44, who was traveling in the merge lane in front of him. The front of Meegan’s Jeep struck the rear of Henman’s bike causing him to be ejected onto the hood of the Jeep. Henman was carried approximately 400 feet until the Jeep struck a curb and stopped, throwing Henman onto the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brian Meegan then fled the scene in the Jeep, pulling into a nearby parking lot. He then exited his vehicle and removed Henman’s bike from under the car before being apprehended a short time later by responding troopers.

Brian Meegan was arrested and charged with one count each of vehicular homicide first degree, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to report an accident resulting in injury or death, no proof of motor vehicle insurance, and inattentive driving. He was arraigned at JP Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution for lack of $27,700.00 cash bail. He was not injured.

This crash remains under investigation.