Spring Hill woman indicted in fatal chase

Grand jurors on Tuesday indicted a 21-year-old Spring Hill woman on murder and aggravated fleeing charges.

Brittany Elizabeth Miles was arrested following a May 10 accident near County Line Road that killed a motorcyclist.

Moments prior to the accident, Miles escaped arrest along U.S. 19 in Hudson after a Pasco County deputy had her in custody under suspicion of DUI, authorities said.

Before her pickup could be towed from the scene, she escaped from the back of a sheriff's cruiser, got into her vehicle and fled northbound along the highway while dragging the deputy a couple hundred feet, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

During her escape – and while deputies were in pursuit – she plowed into 67-year-old Henry F. McCain as he was crossing the highway on his motorcycle, deputies said.

Miles continued driving a short distance and attempted to elude deputies on foot, but she was apprehended and arrested near Spring Hill Drive, according to the sheriff's office.

The Pasco deputy who was clinging to Miles' vehicle in an attempt to stop her from escaping was hospitalized, but later released, deputies said.

Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino said because Miles killed McCain during the commission of other felonies – including escape and resisting arrest with violence – her most severe charge was upgraded to felony first-degree murder.

Magrino said the State Attorney's Office will not pursue the death penalty against Miles.

Miles faces other charges in Pasco County. Jail records show she was on probation for a drug charge when the accident took place.

The Hernando County case likely will be handled by Assistant State Attorney Bill Catto, said Magrino.

Catto, who works out of the Citrus County office, prosecutes the majority of traffic-related homicide cases in the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

Miles is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Hernando County Circuit Court. She is expected to be represented by an attorney out of Daytona Beach.