ESPN analyst Matt Miller charged with misdemeanor in car crash

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, currently on leave, was charged Monday with a misdemeanor stemming from the June car crash that led to the amputation of his left arm and prompted scrutiny of his past charitable efforts.

Authorities in Missouri charged Miller, 43, with failure to drive on the right half of the roadway when the roadway was of sufficient width, resulting in an accident.

On June 17, driving on two-lane Missouri Route 96, Miller’s Ford Bronco crossed a double yellow line and slammed into a semi-truck. Miller was thrown from his car and airlifted to a hospital.

Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators later noted in their report that it was unknown whether Miller was distracted or under the influence of alcohol or marijuana. In July, Miller told The Athletic in an email that bloodwork could confirm he was not under the influence. He added that he was not using his phone at the time of the crash.

The wreck indirectly led to an investigation into Miller by the Missouri attorney general’s office, which received complaints from at least two dozen people alleging he failed to pay them winnings from charity fantasy football leagues he ran.

Days after his crash, Miller’s family posted a GoFundMe soliciting donations to assist with expenses associated with his recovery. The post was met with widespread backlash from people who alleged Miller had failed to pay them winnings promptly, if at all, or did not deliver scouting lessons they had paid for years prior. Many of those people questioned whether the money Miller promised would go to charity ever ended up there.

“Because this is an active investigation, I’ve been told by legal counsel to limit my response,” Miller said in July. “However, I’ve tried reaching out to all the winners from the last season to make sure they’ve been paid.”

On July 10, Miller said he would step away from ESPN “indefinitely” and be placed on leave to focus on his recovery. He told The Athletic he expected his recovery would take between 12 and 18 months.

An initial hearing for Miller’s misdemeanor charge is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Alex Andrejev and Melody Gutierrez contributed to this report.