MILFORD, Del.- A Milford man is facing vehicular assault, DUI and related charges after police say he struck a child with his car and then left the scene.

Milford police said the incident happened just before 8 p.m. Officers were dispatched to a personal injury accident where a child had been struck by a vehicle in the area of NW 4th and West streets. As officers were responding to the scene, they were advised that the suspect vehicle had continued to travel northbound on West Street and was fleeing the scene. The suspect vehicle was described as a silver Lexus.

Officers were advised that the reporting person was following the vehicle. Officers then learned that the vehicle had come to a stop at the intersection of North DuPont Boulevard (Route 113) and Masten’s Circle in Milford.

Officers responded to the area and made contact with the suspect vehicle and its driver. Police said that as officers were speaking with the driver, identified as Thermo Thermitus, 46, of Milford, he alleged that he did not know that he struck a child.

Police said that as officers continued to speak with Thermitus, they smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. Officers administered field sobriety tests to Thermitus, which police said he failed. Officers completed additional sobriety tests on Thermitus, which police said provided probable cause that Thermitus was under the influence of alcohol. He was then taken into custody.

The child was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.

Thermitus was charged with second-degree vehicular assault: Driving Under The Influence Negligence Causes Injury, Leaving The Scene Of A Collision Resulting In Injury, and Driving A Vehicle Under The Influence Of Alcohol.

Police said that after he sobered up, Thermitus had a presentment through the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and was released on his own recognizance. He was ordered to appear at a later date in the Kent County Court of Common Pleas in reference to this investigation.