Fla. chase injures deputy, kills motorcyclist, before pickup driver is captured

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Brittany Miles, mug shot from prior arrest

/ WTSP

(CBS/WTSP) Hudson, Florida - A pursuit across two Florida counties left a motorcyclist dead, a rookie deputy injured, and a woman arrested, all after she was pulled over for a DUI traffic stop that triggered a wild and dangerous chase.

Investigators say Deputy Ashley Grady, a 23-year-old rookie with the Pasco County Sheriff's Department, stopped a pickup truck Tuesday morning on suspicion of DUI, reported CBS affiliate WTSP.

The driver, 21-year-old Brittany Miles, was taken out of the vehicle and placed in handcuffs, but somehow managed to get back inside and tried speeding off.

"She somehow got back in the car and drove in handcuffs until she was stopped in Hernando County," said Pasco Sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll.

Authorities investigate at the Hernando County, Fla. site of crash between a pickup truck and motorcycle, Tuesday, May 10, 2011

/ WTSP

Witnesses say Deputy Grady reached into the pickup truck's window to try to stop Miles, but was instead dragged several feet into the median of U.S. 19, hanging out the window, according to WTSP.

At that point, the pursuit was on. Miles was speeding in a red 2002 Dodge Ram pickup, heading north on US-19.

"It was a flash, it was a blur. It just happened so fast," said witness Bonnie Thompson, who was about to witness something terrible.

Thompson heard the sirens, saw the chase.

Investigators say Miles blew through a red light and struck and killed 66-year-old Henry McCain, who was riding his motorcycle through the intersection.

Finally, near the Pasco Hernando Community College, deputies stopped and arrested Miles.

Pickup truck that led Fla. police on a two-county chase, before it crashed, Tuesday, May 10, 2011

/ WTSP

Police were still trying to figure out how Miles was able to get away from deputy Grady and get back into her pickup.

The deputy was airlifted to a hospital for a head injury and scrapes, but is expected to be OK.

Miles faces a long list of charges including vehicular manslaughter, eluding, and possibly attempted murder of a police officer.

Deputies say Miles was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. She was then booked into the Hernando County Jail. Records show Miles was arrested less than three weeks ago on possession of methamphetamine charges.

1 Comments +