An FHP investigation into a car crash involving an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy which killed an elderly man, has concluded that the Deputy was at fault in the crash.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers upon completing their investigation in the fatal crash, found Deputy Sheriff Malinda Miller was at fault in the crash on August 17, that left Edward Soistman, 91, dead.
“Investigators have determined that Deputy Malinda Miller failed to use due care and failed to use her emergency equipment while responding to an emergency”, an e-mail from FHP said.
Deputy Miller was issued two traffic citations today, (i) failure to use due care-speeding too fast for conditions and (ii) failure of an emergency vehicle to utilize emergency equipment while responding to an emergency.
At the time of the crash on August 17, on Magnolia Homes Road near Altamonte Springs, Deputy Miller was traveling at twice the posted speed limit and without lights or sirens when her cruiser crashed into Soistman’s vehicle. Soistman died from the injuries sustained in the crash.
The citations issued on Friday to Deputy Miller require a mandatory court appearance. It is not clear whether Deputy Miller will face charges.
Meanwhile, an e-mail statement from the Sheriff’s Office late on Friday said that, the case will be reviewed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Section (PSS), now that FHP had completed their investigation. The statement added that given Deputy Miller’s “impending drivers license status, DHSMV suspension for 6 months”, she has been reassigned until the completion of the PSS investigation.
Deputy Miller is now handling desk duties.
