May 16, 2014 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Charges were filed Friday by state police against a 22-year-old Clarksville man who crashed his vehicle on Route 188 in Jefferson and then punched a firefighter who was attempting to extricate him from the wreckage.

James Patrick Miller of 170 Second Street became combative following the crash at 12:30 p.m. March 18, police said. He had to be handcuffed and strapped to a medical stretcher to prevent him from striking others.

Police said they were attempting to stop Miller for speeding when he lost control of his sport utility vehicle on a curve just west of Goslin Road. The vehicle struck the guardrail and a utility pole and rolled over.

Police said Miller became violent and started punching the windshield, shouting profanities at the trooper and others. He became combative when firefighters and emergency personnel attempted to extricate him from the vehicle and punched Joseph Petek, a firefighter with Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company, in the face.

Miller was strapped to the stretcher and handcuffed because he continued to attempt to hit other emergency personnel, police said. In the ambulance, Miller said he had been drinking beer all morning. He also threatened a trooper and told an emergency medical technician to move closer so “I can slit your throat,” police said.

Blood tests indicated a blood-alcohol content exceeding 0.3 percent, police said.

Miller faces charges of aggravated assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, terroristic threats, harassment, simple assault, disorderly conduct, careless driving, reckless driving and other traffic offenses. He had not yet been arraigned on the charges Friday afternoon.