By Craig Anderson

DOVER — A Delaware State Police trooper suffered minor injuries Friday, after being struck by a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old Dover woman, spokeswoman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper said.

Lauren Miller was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck pulling a trailer when it initially struck a tree in the 900 block of Voshells Mill Star Hill Road, Cpl. Pepper said. Troopers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:09 a.m., but Ms. Miller had left the area.

Troopers then located the truck on Voshells Mill Star Hill Road and attempted to make a traffic stop; however, Ms. Miller continued driving, police said.

The truck turned north onto South State Street, striking a patrol vehicle that had been positioned in the road in an attempt to make a stop, Cpl. Pepper said.

Ms. Miller’s truck then traveled through the Royal Farms parking lot at 6 W. Lebanon Road, continuing on that street before crossing a cement barrier and into the path of oncoming traffic.

The truck again turned onto South State Street and over a residential lawn, hitting a patrol vehicle positioned to “protect the public’s safety from imminent danger.”

The F-150 then continued traveling along West Lebanon Road and South State Street before becoming disabled in the middle of the intersection. Troopers gave Ms. Miller multiple commands to exit the vehicle, but she failed to comply, Cpl. Pepper said. She was eventually taken into custody after being removed from the truck.

Troopers detected a strong odor of alcohol when Ms. Miller was apprehended, and a DUI investigation ensued.

The first trooper struck by the F-150 was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, treated and released. The officer is assigned to Troop 3 and has been employed by DSP for six years.

The second trooper struck, assigned to Troop 3 and employed by DSP for two years, was uninjured.

Ms. Miller refused medical attention, Cpl. Pepper said. During their investigation, troopers discovered that the pickup and trailer Ms. Miller was operating were stolen.

She was charged with second-degree assault while injuring a law enforcement officer, motor vehicle theft, disregarding a police officer’s signal, second-degree reckless endangering (two counts), driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest, littering on a highway and numerous traffic violations. She was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2, Rehoboth Beach, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown, on a $17,905 cash bail.