Brooklyn Center man charged in alcohol-involved crash that killed 1-year-old

A Brooklyn Center man has been charged in a crash in which alcohol was involved and a one-year-old was killed last weekend.

Three other children were hurt in the crash as well.

Hakeem Olajuwan Miller, 25, faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and two counts of endangering a child in a situation that could cause harm. If convicted at a maximum sentence, Miller faces over 20 years in prison.

A criminal complaint states that on Sunday, Aug. 1 at about 2:30 a.m., the Minnesota State Patrol responded to the area of Interstate 94 and Dupont Avenue in Brooklyn Center on a report of a crash. A 911 caller indicated that there were multiple children and adults with injuries, and that one child was unresponsive and not breathing.

Troopers witnessed a white Ford Explorer SUV upside down, on its roof, resting diagonally across the center lane of I-94 west. In addition, law enforcement noticed several feet of damaged fencing on the Dupont Avenue overpass dangling over I-94 and the SUV.

According to the complaint, surveillance video showed the vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed, went over the barricade and through the fence on the Dupont Avenue overpass, flipped over as it fell off of the overpass, and landed upside down on the highway. There were seven people inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Miller was identified as the driver. Police identified the remaining people inside the vehicle — a woman in the passenger seat, a 9-year-old, a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 1-year-old. The 3-year-old and 1-year-old were both sitting on the 9-year-old’s lap at the time of the crash. Police noted child safety restraint systems were not in place in the vehicle.

Authorities noted while speaking with Miller that his one eye was "bloodshot and watery" and they smelled alcohol coming from Miller. It was also noted that Miller was missing his right eye due to an unrelated injury that predated the crash.

Due to him being the father of the children in the vehicle, police noted he was "very upset" and they were not able to conduct any field sobriety tests. Miller told authorities he had been drinking, but claimed he only had one beer. A preliminary breath test was conducted on Miller and registered at a 0.09 blood alcohol level, according to the complaint. A blood draw was also taken from Miller at the hospital and results are pending as of Tuesday.

Following the crash, paramedics responded to the scene and began CPR on the 1-year-old, who was unresponsive and not breathing. That child was taken to the hospital and was ultimately pronounced dead as a result of his injuries from the crash. The other four children suffered bruises, scrapes and cuts as a result of the crash as well.

A witness told police he saw the crash while driving on I-94. He noted that the vehicle was held up by the fencing for a short period of time, but it ultimately broke, causing the SUV to come crashing down on the highway. The witness also noted he saw one of the children on top of the 1-year-old. The witness stopped to help and ultimately removed the 1-year-old from the SUV, noting that the child was unresponsive at that time.

The surviving children spoke to the state patrol following the crash. One child said the vehicle was "going as fast as it would go." They added that the vehicle had been swerving before the crash.

Police found a loaded Glock 9 mm handgun underneath the driver’s seat of the SUV. Miller, at the time, had failed to make a court appearance for a case in which he was charged with carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol and reckless handling or use of a dangerous weapon.

Miller is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday. He is currently in custody.