Paramedics airlift Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy James Miner, 57, off of a Malibu beach Saturday after a DUI crash. (KTLA.com) |
MALIBU (KTLA) -- Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies are lucky to be alive after an alleged drunken driver slammed into their patrol car, sending them plummeting more than 20 feet over a cliff onto the rocky beach below.
The driver -- who has not yet been identified -- allegedly rear-ended the patrol car about 1:15 a.m. Saturday in the 19400 block of Pacific Coast Highway, officials said. The two deputies, Jeffery Miner, 57, and James Millage, 47, survived the crash.
Their seat belts prevented them from being thrown from the patrol car, but if the crash happened during the beach's high tide, the seat belts could have led to their demise, Sheriff's officials said.
"They were in pain and they would have had a difficult time getting out," said Lt. Josh Thai. "They could have drowned."
Both deputies were rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood with non life-threatening injuries.
Officials said Miner could be released from the hospital today, while Millage will likely remain hospitalized with injuries to his lower back.
The suspected drunken driver -- a white man driving a BMW -- was allegedly drinking Friday night at Moonshadows in Malibu. A bartender at the restaurant reportedly tried to keep the man from driving away but was unsuccessful.
The man's head slammed into his windshield in the crash, Sheriff's officials said. Paramedics took the man to West Hills Hospital for treatment. When he is released, he will be arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.
The man could also face charges of marijuana possession. Deputies responding to the crash scene found marijuana in his car, officials said, but there is no word yet on whether or not he had a prescription for the drugs.
The driver -- who has not yet been identified -- allegedly rear-ended the patrol car about 1:15 a.m. Saturday in the 19400 block of Pacific Coast Highway, officials said. The two deputies, Jeffery Miner, 57, and James Millage, 47, survived the crash.
Their seat belts prevented them from being thrown from the patrol car, but if the crash happened during the beach's high tide, the seat belts could have led to their demise, Sheriff's officials said.
"They were in pain and they would have had a difficult time getting out," said Lt. Josh Thai. "They could have drowned."
Both deputies were rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood with non life-threatening injuries.
Officials said Miner could be released from the hospital today, while Millage will likely remain hospitalized with injuries to his lower back.
The suspected drunken driver -- a white man driving a BMW -- was allegedly drinking Friday night at Moonshadows in Malibu. A bartender at the restaurant reportedly tried to keep the man from driving away but was unsuccessful.
The man's head slammed into his windshield in the crash, Sheriff's officials said. Paramedics took the man to West Hills Hospital for treatment. When he is released, he will be arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.
The man could also face charges of marijuana possession. Deputies responding to the crash scene found marijuana in his car, officials said, but there is no word yet on whether or not he had a prescription for the drugs.
