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Chelsea Principal Charged With Drunk Driving After Smashing Into Cop Car

By Mathew Katz | December 29, 2011 11:48am
Cops say Darlene Miller hit a police vehicle outside of Nyack, N.Y.
Cops say Darlene Miller hit a police vehicle outside of Nyack, N.Y.
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South Nyack-Grandview Police Department

CHELSEA — A tough, by-the-books Chelsea principal was arrested for drunk driving after she allegedly drove her car into a police cruiser.

The principal of the NYC Museum School in Chelsea was charged with DWI after crashing into the stopped police car, nearly hitting an officer, authorities said.

According to the South Nyack-Grandview Police Department, 64-year-old Darlene Miller ran into the back of the cop car while driving north on Route 9W towards the Tappan Zee Bridge, just outside of Nyack, N.Y., at about 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.

The collision forced the police car into another vehicle that an officer had just pulled over, narrowly avoiding the officer as he was speaking to the driver, according to South Nyack-Grandview Police Chief Robert VanCura.

"Fortunately, the officer was in between her car and the other car, and no one was hurt," he said.

Miller, known for her tough demeanor, has helped make the NYC Museum School at 333 W. 17th St. one of the city's top high schools, with a 98 percent graduation rate in 2010.

Miller was taken to the Nyack Hospital to be treated for minor injuries before spending several hours in custody, VanCura said. Cops said she told them that she had something to drink before driving, but refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

VanCura said that in addition to a DWI, Miller could be charged with criminal mischief for damaging the police cruiser, along with several other traffic-related charges.

Calls to Miller's office and the Department of Education were not immediately returned.