SLO County jury convicts woman of felony hit-and-run and DUI causing injury

Jury finds Millar guilty of inflicting great bodily injury on the Arroyo Grande Police officer she struck with her car

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — A San Luis Obispo County jury has found Laura Lee Millar, 44, of Santa Maria guilty of three of the four charged counts, including felony hit-and-run causing injury, felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and felony driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding .08 percent causing injury. The jury also found true that Millar personally inflicted great bodily injury on the Arroyo Grande Police officer she struck with her car. They found Millar not guilty of the charge of assault on a peace officer.

During the one-week trial, jurors heard evidence that on Feb. 23, 2023, the Arroyo Grande Police Department responded to an argument between two individuals, one being Laura Lee Millar, at Courtland Street and Grand Avenue. When officers arrived, Millar fled the scene in her car. Despite verbal commands to stop, Millar continued to drive and struck an officer, causing significant injury, as she attempted to flee the scene.

Approximately 30 minutes later, a California Highway Patrol officer observed Millar driving southbound on Highway 101 in Buellton at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Millar was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

Millar faces a maximum of six years, eight months in state prison at her sentencing hearing scheduled for Feb. 29, in Department 1 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, with Honorable Matthew Guerrero presiding.