New Port Richey man arrested after two-county chase and crashing into 7 vehicles

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)

A New Port Richey, Florida resident, 56 year-old Efton Wanefield Miller, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), May 14, 2025, after he took law enforcement officers in Citrus and Hernando counties on a high-speed chase, ramming first into a FHP trooper's' patrol vehicle, and later into six civilian vehicles, causing serious injuries to one driver.

At 8:00 a.m., FHP troopers received a request for assistance from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, due to a peson, later identified as Miller, fleeing from a traffic stop, driving a Ford Bronco sport utility vehicle (SUV) and later attempting to collide with another deputy who was conducting an unrelated traffic stop.

As the Bronco traveled south on U.S. Highway 19, FHP troopers engaged in the pursuit. The Bronco was traveling at such high speeds, it was unsafe for troopers to attempt to conduct a PIT maneuver (see * below), which is often used to stop a fleeing vehicle. However, Miller brake-checked the FHP trooper, which caused the FHP patrol vehicle and the fleeing Bronco to collide.

At the intersection of Wendy Lane in Spring Hill (Hernando County), Florida, suspect Miller collided with six vehicles, which resulted in serious injuries to one driver. Miller was taken into custody. After he was taken into custody, officers found two swords, brass knuckles, a bow and arrow, a crossbow and a police radio inside Miller's Bronco.

At 3:20 p.m., Miller was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center in Brooksville, Florida. He was charged with reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury, aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement officers involving serious bodily injury, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury and property damage, being a felon in possession of weapons, and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

*In the PIT, or 'precision immobilization technique,' maneuver, an officer will line up with the fleeing vehicle to contact its rear quarter panel, while steering inward, with the intent of causing the fleeing vehicle spin out and stop.