Howard H. Askey, 65, of Hyde is facing charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officer; reckless driving; careless driving; driving at safe speed; obedience to traffic-control devices; failure to stop at red signal; and recklessly endangering another person. Askey’s bail has been set at $10,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 10:13 p.m. Nov. 12, 2012, Clearfield Borough police were conducting routine patrol. Police were sitting at the intersection of East Cherry and South Second streets and waiting to turn left onto South Second Street.
At that time, police observed the operator of a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed down South Second Street. Police pulled onto South Second Street and turned on their emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over. Upon observing the emergency lights, the vehicle’s operator continued at a high rate of speed through a red light and onto the Nichols Street Bridge.
From there, the operator turned right onto West Front Street without signaling and continued at a high rate of speed out of Clearfield Borough onto state Route 153 north. At this point, police contacted Clearfield County Control and advised them that they had attempted a traffic stop and the operator was attempting to flee. Clearfield County Control then advised Lawrence Township and Sandy Township police.
Clearfield Borough police continued to follow the suspect vehicle up SR 153 north. Police turned on their audible signal in an attempt to get the operator to stop. The operator ignored both the emergency lights and audible signal, turning left onto U.S. Route 322 westbound. Police continued to follow the suspect vehicle at a distance.
Police observed the operator driving in the opposite lane and nearly striking an oncoming vehicle head-on. The oncoming vehicle had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid a collision with the suspect vehicle. Police continued to follow the suspect vehicle, which appeared to be having a vehicle problem and emitting smoke. While continuing on U.S. Route 322, police again observed the operator traveling in the opposite lane and nearly striking a second oncoming vehicle head-on.
The suspect vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the roadway near Brown Springs Road. At this time, police started giving the operator verbal orders to exit the vehicle, which were ignored. After other officers arrived at the scene, the operator complied with orders by exiting the vehicle, and he was handcuffed. The operator was searched and identified as Askey. He was transported to the Clearfield Hospital for an evaluation.