A woman will not have to serve prison time for her role in a deadly traffic accident after a DC Superior Court judge passed a suspended sentence.
Briana Miller was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, driving under the influence and reckless driving for running over 47-year-old Delane Scales during the early hours of July 8, 2017. The accident occurred on the 3200 block of 22nd Street, SE, where the speed limit was 25 mph, according to court documents.
Miller, 38, lost control of the Hyundai she was driving and hit a fire hydrant, according to court documents. The responding officer also reported smelling a heavy odor of PCP in the vehicle, a mind-altering drug. However, defense attorney Pierce Suen said that while his client was negligent, she was not impaired.
The defendant pleaded guilty to negligent homicide on March 4 and was sentenced that day.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to recommend a fully suspended 36-months sentence with two years of probation. Judge Maribeth Raffinan adopted the recommendation.
Scales’ wife, a childhood friend and her cousin gave victim impact statements.
Suen said that after the incident, the defendant lost her job, went through a depression phase and got a new job where she is now doing very well.
Conditions of Miller’s probation include drug and alcohol testing and treatment, grief counseling, obtaining or maintaining employment, attending a victim impact panel and receiving a mental health screening.
