Woman Charged In 2023 WeHa Crash That Killed A Woman, Child: Police

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A 29-year-old Wolcott woman has been charged with driving while impaired in connection with a horrific crash on Interstate 84 in West Hartford last year that killed a woman, a toddler, and a dog.

Connecticut State Police Thursday said Wolcott resident Michelle Miller, 29, was taken into custody on Wednesday, July 10, in connection with a double fatal crash on Sept. 7, 2023.

According to an affidavit for her arrest, Miller admitted to drinking one alcoholic beverage and had smoked some marijuana the day of the accident, which was on a Wednesday night.

She told investigators she was cut off while traveling, then lost control of her vehicle after it crossed the highway's rumble strips, according to court documents.

But police investigators determined Miller was also under the influence of depressants, stimulants and narcotic analgesics and was "unable to operate a motor vehicle safely," according to the affidavit.

The violent, three-vehicle accident killed a 26-year-old Bristol woman and a 2-year-old toddler riding with her, according to Connecticut State police.

The crash happened on I-84 when Miller's Volkswagen Jetta, which was traveling on I-84 West when "for an unknown reason," entered the grassy median, then collided with a Suburu Impreza traveling in the left lane of I-84 East.

Those two vehicles were then struck by a tractor-trailer, with the Suburu's occupants, the woman and a child in a child-restraint seat, killed. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Also dead was a dog traveling in Miller's vehicle.

Miller suffered minor injuries, with the tractor-trailer driver uninjured, according to police.

State police said Miller has been charged with speeding; reckless driving; illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; failure to drive in the proper lane; driving the wrong way on a divided highway; risk of injury to a child; cruelty to animals; second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle; misconduct with a motor vehicle; and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The cruelty to animal charge stemmed from the killed Labrador retriever that was riding with Miller.

She is being held on a $750,000 bond and was to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Thursday.

Police said Miller turned herself in Wednesday at about 4:15 p.m. and was placed in handcuffs at the state police Troop H barracks in Hartford.

For the state police news page, which also includes the full arrest affidavit against Michelle MIller, click on this link.

From Sept. 7, 2023: 'Woman, Toddler Killed In Violent Crash In West Hartford: UPDATE'