CLEARFIELD – An out-of-state man has been accused of leading state troopers on a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 80 and also striking a passing motorist and police unit.
Ching Yam Yeung, 20, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been charged by Trooper Zachary O. Moran of the Clearfield-based state police with felony aggravated assault, two counts, and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer.
He’s also been charged with misdemeanor simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property, plus 46 summaries.
All charges were held to county court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. Yeung’s bail is set at $50,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at 9:15 p.m. June 11, troopers observed a red Toyota Corolla traveling east on I-80 near mile-marker 121 in Bradford Township. It was in the left-hand lane traveling at 46 miles per hour without any emergency flashers.
Moran followed the vehicle for about one mile, then activated his emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver allegedly failed to stop and fled at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
The driver, later identified as Yeung, passed vehicles on the right berm, and spike strips were subsequently deployed near mile-marker 147.8 east, flattening all four tires on his vehicle, Moran said.
As he continued to flee, he allegedly struck a passing motorist near mile-marker 148 and failed to stop at the crash scene. Trooper Derek Southern proceeded to position his marked police unit in front of Yeung’s vehicle.
Yeung “rammed” Southern’s vehicle and attempted to flee east; however, Southern re-positioned his unit to be parallel and performed a “PIT” maneuver. Yeung’s vehicle was brought to a stop, and he was taken into custody, according to the affidavit.