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Husband jailed for hitting wife with car By DANI DODGE A man accused of running over his wife with a van was sentenced to 10 months in jail on Wednesday. Keith Elliott Miller, 48, of Central Point, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of third-degree assault, a felony, and driving under the influence of intoxicants. Police were first called to Miller's Central Point home about a domestic disturbance on Feb. 2. Miller's wife had moved out with their children several days before and she was living at a women's shelter. She went back home to get some legal papers. Arguing ensued and police were called. While en route, Jackson County sheriff's deputies got another report that there had been a hit-and-run and Miller's wife was the victim. Miller's attorney, Monica Martin, disputed the idea that Miller had actually run over his wife. Martin did say that Miller admits he should have stopped the van when Miller's wife ran up to it. Instead, she was knocked to the ground. She told police the van had gone over her legs. She ended up with a fractured shoulder and tire marks on her pants, according to deputy district attorney Matt Chancellor. "She just can't say with certainty that this wasn't an accident," admitted Chancellor. "But the defendant was intoxicated and that's where reckless comes in." Miller left the scene of the accident before police arrived, although he did alert a bus driver to call 911. Police arrested Miller later that day when he drove to Rogue Valley Medical Center to see his wife. Police said he failed a field sobriety test and then a breath test proved his blood alcohol was twice the legal limit. This wasn't Miller's first arrest. He has convictions dating to 1980 for assault with a deadly weapon, battery, inflicting corporal injury and terroristic threat. In addition to his time in jail, Miller was ordered to stay away from his wife. "He loves her very much," Martin said, "but understands from here on out he is to have no contact." The victim did not show up for the sentencing. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.