A newly-released Connecticut State Police report sheds new light on the death of an on-duty officer.
Trooper First Class Kevin Miller died nearly a year ago when he rear-ended a tractor-trailer at a high rate of speed on Interstate 84 in Tolland.
Investigators have concluded the crash was an accident. Images from the investigation show the severity of the impact. The odometer was stopped at 83 mph, the speed investigators said Miller was traveling at the moment of impact.
His dash camera video shows the tractor-trailer up ahead. It was going less than 5 mph because of a mechanical problem, according to police.
The report shows the truck going slowly on the highway created a safety issue, but in the end, faults the trooper for not realizing the hazard ahead of him.
His friends remember the 19-year veteran of the police force as a father and family man.
"Very soft spoken. He was actually a very considerate person," said South Windsor resident Jack Tran, who had known Miller since 1991 and practiced aikido with him. "It was very shocking for us. we just realized how short life could be," he added.
Tran said Miller was well-respected and got along well with everyone. Even after cutting down on his time at the dojo to spend time with his family, he was popular at Aikido Hartford, where he and Tran practiced. Members of the dojo gathered for a memorial practice in tribute to Miller in March.
"He’s very much missed by all of us," Tran said.
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“He was a great trooper and a great man. He worked very hard for the citizens of this state with pride and with distinction,” said Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox of Miller.
Miller was not wearing a seat belt. Neither he nor the truck driver had drugs or alcohol in their systems.
