NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A man accused of being under the influence and causing a crash that left one person dead and another injured was arrested Sunday in New Smyrna Beach, according to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.
New Smyrna Beach police said Michael Miles, 32, was driving a silver Nissan on State Road 44 near Interstate 95 early Sunday morning and failed to stop behind a gray Honda, colliding with the vehicle’s rear.
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The crash killed a person in the back seat and sent another person in the passenger seat to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach in critical condition, police said.
When one of the police officers, who happened to be nearby, got to the scene, she said Miles appeared to be unconscious, according to a charging affidavit. While trying to assess the occupants of the other vehicle, she saw Miles get out of the Nissan and could smell alcohol on his breath, the report said.
Police said Miles thought the Honda was moving and that’s why he did not stop. After the collision, the next thing he remembers is waking up and seeing a police officer, the affidavit said. Police said his speech was slurred and his eyes appeared to be glassy and bloodshot.
Later at Advent Health in New Smyrna Beach, police said Miles refused both a breath test and a blood test.
Miles was later arrested for several charges, including driving under the influence causing death.
In the audio from an officer’s body camera, you can hear Miles breaking down in tears and repeating “Someone died?” to police following his arrest.
“I don’t know what to do or say,” he tells police, sobbing. “Please tell me that’s not true. Please tell me someone didn’t die.”
[LISTEN TO FULL NEW SMYRNA BEACH POLICE AUDIO BELOW]
He was taken to Volusia County Jail with no bond.
The family identified the person who was killed as Siddharth Sukhdeo, 17. He was a junior at New Smyrna Beach High School. The family was coming home from a belated birthday party for him, and was traveling at night to avoid traffic. Sukhdeo’s mother is the one in critical condition at Halifax Health.
Meanwhile, in-person and virtual grief counselors will be available for students faculty and staff at New Smyrna Beach High School. The school has also postponed the ninth grade English language arts FSA scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday.
Anyone wanting to request a virtual grief counseling session for a student can contact the District Mental Health office at 386-734-7190, ext. 20009.