(Newark, DE 19713) – On Saturday, September 5, 2026, at approximately 5:14 a.m., officers from the New Castle County Division of Police responded to the 100 block of Melodic Drive in the community of Harmony Woods for a report of a flatbed tractor-trailer that had struck multiple parked vehicles.
Upon arrival, officers located the driver, identified as 53-year-old Brian Johnston of Newark, who was displaying signs of impairment. Officers administered standard field sobriety tests, which indicated that Johnston was impaired.
As officers continued their investigation, they recovered illegal narcotics, including crack cocaine and fentanyl, as well as prescription medications and drug paraphernalia from inside the tractor-trailer.
The investigation revealed that Johnston was driving a white International tractor-trailer on Medley Drive when he struck two parked vehicles. He continued onto Duet Drive, where he struck three additional vehicles. Johnston then turned onto Melodic Drive, where he struck two more vehicles, before turning onto Acapella Court, where he struck five additional vehicles. During the incident, Johnston also struck a street sign and four mailboxes.
Johnston eventually stopped the tractor-trailer and exited the vehicle. Officers and emergency medical personnel were notified and arrived shortly thereafter, locating Johnston on Melodic Drive.
Johnston was taken into custody without further incident and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:
• Twelve Misdemeanor Counts of Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Collision
• Twelve 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
• One Misdemeanor Count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Twelve Violations of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving a Commercial Motor Vehicle
• Twelve Violations of Failure to Report a Collision to a Police Agency
• One Violation of Inattentive Driving
Brian Johnston was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $3,825 secured bail.
Brian Johnston – 53