| For Immediate Release Case # 11HF0655 March 11, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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DRUNKEN DRIVER CHARGED WITH KILLING BICYCLIST AFTER DRIVING INTO BICYCLE LANE WHILE TEXTING
NEWPORT BEACH – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed charges yesterday against a drunken driver for killing a bicyclist after driving distracted into the bicycle lane while texting. Danae Marie Miller, 22, Newport Coast, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Miller is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned April 4, 2011, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The time and Department are to be determined.
On Feb. 21, 2011, Miller is accused of consuming alcohol at her workplace, Zinc Café. At approximately 6:00 p.m., Miller is accused of driving her 2008 Volkswagen Jetta eastbound on San Joaquin Hills Road. At the same time, 41-year-old victim Amine Britel was riding his bicycle eastbound in a marked bicycle lane. Miller is accused of repeatedly text messaging on her cell phone while driving. She is accused of being distracted and driving into the bicycle lane, hitting the south curb line, and sticking Britel from behind.
Witnesses and Miller called 911. When Newport Beach police officers arrived at the scene, Miller is accused of displaying objective signs of intoxication including bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, flushed face, and an odor of alcohol. At approximately 7:45 p.m., the defendant is accused of having a blood alcohol content of .10 percent. Britel died at the scene from injuries sustained during the collision.
Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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