New Smyrna Beach Student Killed During a Rear-End Crash on Interstate 95

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 5, 2022

A 32-year-old driver was taken into custody over the weekend for his alleged connection to a rear-end collision on State Road 44 that severely injured one individual and claimed the life of a 17-year-old student in New Smyrna Beach.

According to initial accident reports from members of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, it was shortly after 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2022, when 17-year-old Siddharth “Sidd” Sukhdeo and his parents were driving home from a birthday party down the eastbound lanes of State Road 44. As the family’s vehicle pulled up and stopped at a traffic light near an intersection located next to an I-95 off-ramp, their van was rear-ended by a silver Nissan pickup truck that was being driven by 32-year-old Michael Miles.

Multiple Volusia County law enforcement agencies, including traffic homicide detectives with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, arrived at the scene of the auto accident and discovered that the 17-year-old backseat passenger had sustained serious life-threatening injuries during the collision and had already passed away. His mother was immediately transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where she remains in critical condition after requiring emergency surgery. It is unclear if the father was injured during the crash.

Responding officers to the fatal collision stated that the 32-year-old pickup truck driver had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and smelled of alcohol. The suspect said that he believed the van was in motion and that’s why he didn’t stop his vehicle. “Someone died? Please tell me that’s not true, please tell me that’s not true. Someone didn’t die. Please tell me someone didn’t die,” said Miles in an audio recording from an officer’s body cam.

After receiving treatment for a minor leg injury at AdventHealth in New Smyrna Beach, Miles was arrested and taken to the Volusia County Jail. He has since been charged with DUI, DUI manslaughter, DUI causing damage and serious bodily injury, and driving with a suspended/revoked license. The suspect also declined to partake in any routine field sobriety tests.

Grief counselors have been brought into New Smyrna Beach High School where the 17-year-old honors student and accomplished musician was in the process of finishing up his junior year of education.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.