The driver of a pickup truck that drove into multiple vehicles in Rehoboth Beach in July has pleaded no contest to third-offense DUI, vehicular assault and reckless endangerment charges.

Marty Tuohy, 45, of Middletown appeared in Delaware Superior Court Dec. 7 to take his plea and was later led away in handcuffs to begin serving a mandatory 90-day jail sentence. Tuohy will be officially sentenced Friday, Jan. 4, in Georgetown.

Tuohy faces up to 10 years in prison, and the charges would typically come with a minimum of a year in jail. However, because the offenses are alcohol-related, Tuohy has the option to take a 90-day minimum sentence followed by time spent in Reflections, a prison-based alcohol treatment program.

Although he has not been sentenced yet, Tuohy chose to begin serving his minimum time right away and is expected to get credit for time served. Tuohy’s attorney, James Stiller, requested a presentence investigation. Tuohy will also have to pay restitution upon his sentencing.



Tuohy told Judge E. Scott Bradley that he is currently seeing a psychiatrist for depression and is in treatment for alcohol abuse. Tuohy said he has been to several rehabilitation centers over the years for substance abuse.

On July 7, Tuohy had come to Rehoboth with a friend and her children driving his blue Dodge Ram pickup. Deputy Attorney General Nichole Gannett said Tuohy went into a Rehoboth Avenue bar for drinks. She said Tuohy was parked in a 30-minute parking space. Gannett said Tuohy left the bar and went to move his car. When Tuohy backed out of the space, he collided with another vehicle going westbound on Rehoboth Avenue.

Rehoboth police said Tuohy then tried to drive away from the crash, but he lost control and collided with four cars parked along the median. Although his truck was heavily damaged, Tuohy continued across Rehoboth westbound, striking the curb along the north shoulder, a bike rack and then two vehicles that were driving at the intersection of Rehoboth Avenue and Second Street. The pickup truck struck a pole and came to rest on the sidewalk in front of the Sandcastle Motel, on the north side of Rehoboth Avenue.

Five people were injured, including Tuohy and a 16-year-old. All five were taken to Beebe Healthcare for nonlife-threatening injuries. Eight cars were damaged.