Regular readers know that I have written quite a bit about the Ed Miller case and was also asked to write an Op-Ed piece in the Columbus Dispatch about cyclist/motorist tensions stemming from the case. Miller is the motorist who went out partying with his buddy, Columbus TV personality Gabe Spiegel, in July 2008. They drank and went to an all-night, BYOB strip club. Before leaving the club they did a self-assessment and, like many drunks, Miller decided he was “OK to drive” at 5:00 am or so… and off they went. A bit later, Miller came up on cyclist Steve Barbour, hit Steve from behind, and killed him.
His first criminal trial resulted in a hung jury. As the jury was being seated in his second trial, Miller elected to cut a deal. He plead guilty to a slightly less charge of causing a death while driving recklessly and to a DUI charge. This past week Miller was sentenced to three [3] years in prison on the felony and six months on the DUI.
