Published: July 01, 2008 11:17 pm      

Motorcyclist flees police at 100 mph, authorities allege

A South Fork man faces a host of charges after leading police on a high-speed chase through several towns early Saturday.

State police said Clint Michael Cobaugh, 26, of the 800 block of Ragers Hill Road, was driving 79 mph on his motorcycle when he passed a radar unit about 12:30 a.m. Friday on Route 219 in Adams Township.

When police attempted to stop him, Cobaugh took off, exiting the highway onto Route 869 at St. Michael and heading back toward Johnstown on Ragers Hill and Frankstown roads.

Troopers said speeds topped 100 mph as police chased Cobaugh into the city and then back out on Route 56, the Johnstown Expressway, into Richland Township.

The pursuing trooper reports he lost sight of the motorcycle when his cruiser was cut off by a drunken driver changing lanes on the expressway.

Cobaugh was not wearing a helmet, so the trooper said he was able to identify him through his driver’s license photo and the motorcycle’s plate number.

When police interviewed Cobaugh later at his home, court papers say he admitted he “knew it was stupid” to flee from police at those speeds.

Cobaugh told police he panicked because he was drinking beer at a Thunder in the Valley event earlier.

He is charged with reckless endangerment and summary traffic offenses as well as a felony count of fleeing police.