Suspect in Good Samaritan carjacking injured in fiery crash

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — A man wanted for carjacking a Good Samaritan who stopped to help him after a crash on Ga. 400 in Sandy Springs is in the hospital, after police say he crashed another car in Brookhaven Saturday fleeing from police.

Police said Donald Jason Miles, 28, was spotted driving a stolen Mercedes Saturday near North Druid Hills and Clairmont roads. When officers tried to pull him over, police said, he crashed into a utility pole.

“This suspect decided he was not going to stop, regardless,” said Deputy Police Chief Ron Freeman.

Dash cam video obtained by Channel 2 Action News shows Miles’ car burst into flames, moments after officers pulled him and a dog from it.  Miles can be heard pleading for help on the video.

By the time DeKalb Fire and Rescue arrived to the scene, Captain Patrick Clay told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik it was a chaotic scene.

“We had a vehicle on fire. We had a person with multiple injuries and we had a dog with multiple injuries,” he said.

Clay separated his team into three groups. One handled the fire, one tended to Miles, and the other to the dog.

Firefighter Robert Read, an animal-lover himself, told Petchenik he wanted to help the dog, who appeared to be in severe pain.

“It’s pretty much the same as with a human,” he said.  “Just wanted to make sure he was taken care of as well.  It was a pretty bad wreck.”

Read used a special oxygen mask designed for dogs to help the animal, and an officer then rushed it to an animal hospital up the road.  Police say the dog is now reunited with its owner.

“He had pelvis injuries, skull fractures, collar bone, multiple injuries,” said Read.

Miles is at Grady Hospital in serious condition, police said.  He’s facing several charges in Brookhaven for the police chase, in addition to the charges in Sandy Springs, where he was wanted for a Feb. 27 carjacking.

In that case, Gustavo Carmona told Petchenik he saw Miles crash his car into the median of Ga. 400, just south of the Chattahoochee River.  When Carmona stopped to see if Miles needed help, police say Miles pulled a gun and stole Carmona’s van.  It was later recovered in Gwinnett County.

“I’m glad to be alive,” Carmona told Petchenik at the time.

Roswell police told Petchenik they also have a hold on Miles for drug possession and intent to distribute drugs.

WSBTV