Driver in July 1 fatal accident waives hearing

Brian Meegan, the driver of the 2003 Jeep that police say killed 44-year-old bicyclist Russell Henman, has waived his preliminary hearing and will be indicted by the Department of Justice on six charges, including vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated.

Jason Miller, spokesman for the Department of Justice, said the case would now go to Superior Court. He said no court dates have been set yet.

Delaware State Police previously charged Meegan, 37, with DUI on May 24, five weeks before the July 1 accident that took the life of Henman. In that case, Miller said, Meegan has pled not guilty and a trial is set in the Court of Common Pleas Monday, Aug. 27.

Meegan’s attorney, John Sandy of Stumpf, Vickers and Sandy in Georgetown, did not respond for comment.

Cpl. Gary Fournier, spokesman for the Delaware State Police, said the results of Meegan's blood alcohol content the night of the July 1 crash is pending testing by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which could take some time. However, he said, it is Delaware State Police policy not to release a defendant’s blood alcohol content.

Fournier said there is no new information on the investigation into the crash.

Following Meegan’s process through the court system are Henman’s friends Jaime Schneider, Brian Gray and Troy Reynolds, who have created pink and red ribbons to wear to Meegan’s court dates in support of their late friend.

“The purpose of wearing the ribbons is to make a statement, a reminder to Brian Meegan and his family that Russell was important to us,” Schneider said.

“Russ' mother is devastated and needed to have someone represent her and the family extended by attending the hearings,” Schneider said. “We set a plan to attend all hearings to make certain Brian Meegan saw a physical presence for Russ.”

He said in the future there would be 18 to 20 people in attendance with the ribbons, which will also have a picture of Henman on them.

In a letter to Attorney General Joseph “Beau” Biden III, Schneider asked Biden to do something about the area where Henman was killed, at the confluence of Route 1, Rehoboth Avenue Extended and Service Road. The letter also asks Biden not to let the case slip through the cracks, and also invites the Attorney General or a representative from the prosecution team to a meeting Henman’s friends will hold Sunday, Aug. 5.

Miller said the letter was received, although he did not know whether anyone from the Attorney General's Office would attend the Aug. 5 meeting.

Henman’s friends have also put a reminder up at the site of the accident, with a sign reading, “A very special person was killed here by a drunk driver. In memory of Russell Henman. Please do not drink and drive.”

Sandy Roumillat, spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Transportation, said the department does review locations of fatalities to see if there is anything that needs attention. She said after initial review, given the nature and circumstances of the crash, the department does not plan any further studies of the area at this time.

Bryan Hecksher, owner of AutoGallery of Delaware in Lewes, knew both Henman and Meegan. He said Henman, who Hecksher knew for six years, was a “larger-than-life kind of guy” who was always very positive and always had time for people.

Hecksher knew Meegan through friends from Meegan’s job working as a bartender at Double L Bar in Rehoboth. Meegan had moved to Delaware from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to take the job.

Representatives from Double L did not respond for comment.

Hecksher said he did not know Meegan too well but from appearances he seemed like a genuine guy. He said he did not think Meegan was a callous person, but Hecksher is angry that Meegan did not try to help Henman after he hit him.

Meegan had only been in Delaware for a few weeks when he picked up his first DUI at the intersection of Rehoboth Avenue Extended and Church Street May 24. That night, Meegan called Hecksher to pick him up from the police station.

On the ride to Meegan’s home in Milford, Hecksher said he told Meegan how foolish he was for driving drunk, advice Meegan did not heed.

“When I saw the Jeep I was like, ‘No!’” Hecksher said. “I’m angry because Russ had no choice. Brian had a choice. It was his choice to get behind the wheel.”