CLEARFIELD – A New York man accused of driving a tow truck recklessly on Interstate 80 and fleeing from state police while intoxicated waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Weilin Song, 33, of Flushing, NY has been charged with fleeing and eluding an officer; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; DUI; careless driving; reckless driving; and related offenses. He’s currently incarcerated at the CCJ in lieu of $50,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 3:10 a.m. Sept. 3, state police were dispatched to Interstate 80 east in the area of mile-marker 114. Further, the operator of a black tow truck was allegedly driving “extremely reckless.”
Upon approaching the area, state police observed the tow truck in question; it was traveling east at approximately 50 miles per hour. State police started to pursue the tow truck, which was weaving from the right to left berm.
As a result, state police activated the lights and siren on their patrol unit at mile-marker 115. However, the operator of the tow truck allegedly failed to stop and state police continued their pursuit for seven miles.
Due to the pursuit, state police noted there was a backlog behind their patrol unit. State police indicated their pursuit of the tow truck ranged in speeds from 20 to 50 miles per hour. During the pursuit, state police requested other troopers respond to deploy spike strips at mile-marker 122.
While approaching mile-marker 122, the operator of the tow truck came to a stop within three feet of the spike strips. State police ordered the operator out of the tow truck at gunpoint and located drug paraphernalia inside the driver’s side door.
The drug paraphernalia was later field-tested, which revealed it had a cocaine residue on it, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The operator who was later identified as Song was taken into custody and appeared to be “extremely intoxicated.”
State police subsequently transported Song to Clearfield Penn Highlands for a blood test. Also, state police notified a drug recognition expert and requested his evaluation of Song. The expert found Song to be under the influence of a CNS depressant.