Bedford Man Charged in Fiery Crash on Saw Mill Parkway
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
A 51-year-old Bedford Hills man was arrested and hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center last Friday night after refusing to stop following an accident, eluding police and overturning on the Saw Mill Parkway in a fiery crash.
Michael Miller was charged with multiple criminal counts and summonses in connection with the episode.
Westchester County police said that a Chevy Malibu traveling northbound on the Saw Mill River Parkway in Hawthorne sideswiped another car while changing lanes at about 9:30 p.m. The Malibu failed to stop at the scene and continued to travel north on the parkway, police said.
The driver of the other vehicle called police and provided a description of the fleeing vehicle.
A county police officer positioned his patrol car at Grant Street in Pleasantville to observe traffic and soon spotted the Malibu. He followed it and attempted a traffic stop near the Route 120 exit in Chappaqua, police said.
Miller refused to stop, continuing to travel northbound until he lost control of the vehicle about a mile south of Readers Digest Road and tipped the car over, according to police. His vehicle made contract with another car as it slid off the road, ending up on its side, authorities said.
Police said Miller was thrown into the rear seat of the Malibu and was unconscious. An officer was able to force his way into the car through the windshield.
As he was reviving the man, a fire broke out in the vehicle, forcing the officer to drag the man out of the car due to smoke and the growing fire.
During a subsequent search, a loaded handgun was found in the car, police said.
The suspect was transported by Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Westchester Medical Center. The officer was also taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and a hand laceration.
The other vehicle involved was driven by a 33-year-old woman who had her seven-year-old daughter with her in the car. They were also taken to Westchester Medical Center as a precaution for a medical evaluation.
On Monday, it was unknown whether he was still in the hospital or the extent of his injuries. He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; second-degree criminal contempt; fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle; and reckless driving. He was also issued summonses for speeding and leaving the scene of a property damage accident in Hawthorne.
The criminal contempt charge was lodged because Miller is barred from possessing a firearm as a result of a pre-existing Order of Protection.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
