Following Up on a Story

Back in August, Gossips linked to a story reported by Bill Williams in the Register-Star about a UPS driver who had suffered an apparent drug overdose while making deliveries in Hudson and was revived by a Hudson police officer, who leapt into the moving delivery truck, turned off the ignition, and administered two doses of Narcan. A few days later, commenting on Gossips post about police reform, a reader identifying himself/herself as "Good Grief" claimed that the UPS driver has suffered a diabetic seizure. 

The link I posted in response to Good Grief's comments was to a Register-Star article reporting that, according to UPS, the driver in question was "no longer with the company."

Today, the Hudson Police Department issued the following press release with new information about the incident.

An ongoing investigation into an accident involving a UPS truck in the City of Hudson has led to additional charges for the driver.

On August 21, 2020, HPD responded to a call that a UPS truck had struck several cars in the area of Dock Street and had left the scene. HPD Officers Jessica Mausolf and Randy Strattman located the truck near Bliss Towers, and observed the operator appeared unresponsive and possibly intoxicated. Officer Strattman ran alongside the moving truck, boarded it, and was able to bring the delivery truck to a stop.

The operator, JOHNATHAN L. MILLER, age 36 , of Tannersville, NY, was administered first aid at the scene and was admitted to Columbia Memorial Hospital. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree (vape pen with suspected concentrated THC), numerous traffic violations, and was issued tickets.

On 10/29/20 HPD received a report from the New York State Police Laboratory that indicated levels of Benzodiazepines and Marihuana in MILLER’s blood at the time of the accident. He was issued an appearance ticket for Driving While Ability Impaired (Drugs) and is to reappear in Hudson City Court on 11/10/20.

“I received a couple calls from some downtown residents who witnessed the event. They expressed their gratitude to Officer Strattman for taking such a risk. When you factor in the good weather on an August morning, near a playground, the potential for disaster was high.” Chief