Lincoln man faces eighth DUI charge following crash

A Lincoln man faces his eighth driving under the influence charge following a single-car crash April 11 near Georgetown.

Delaware State Police responded to a crash at 2:57 p.m. at the intersection of southbound Route 113 and Redden Road, where they found a black Nissan Quest overturned in a wooded area west of Route 113, said DSP Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto.

Troopers contacted the driver, Richard Cook, 50, who showed signs of impairment, DeMalto said. He was taken into custody following a DUI investigation. Two passengers in the car, a 49-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man, had nonlife-threatening injuries. They were transported to Bayhealth Sussex Campus for medical treatment.

Inside the car, DeMalto said, police found about 2 grams of marijuana, suspected liquid heroin, drug paraphernalia, two fixed-blade knives, and a Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. revolver. Cook is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and/or deadly weapons. A computer inquiry revealed that Cook’s driver’s license was suspended and he had been convicted of seven prior DUI offenses. Cook was transported to Troop 5 and charged with felony driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs, felony carrying a concealed firearm, and other weapon and drug charges. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $39,501 cash bond.