CLEARFIELD – A Curwensville man who led police on a chase with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour pleaded guilty Tuesday during sentencing court.
Levi Scott Lippert, 24, was charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude police after an incident on Dec. 4 that started in Lawrence Township and led three police vehicles into Curwensville before he went off the road and crashed.
After reviewing the affidavit of probable cause, which he described as “bad,” President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman rejected Lippert’s plea agreement for a minimum 30-day jail sentence. He asked for a 90-day minimum, which Lippert agreed to accept.
Ammerman commented that the case was “absolutely ridiculous” and someone could have been killed during the chase.
Lippert’s attorney, Cynthia Lose-Morgan stated that her client said he panicked and made a split-second decision, which “was the wrong one.”
Lippert will serve 90 days to one year in jail, plus two years consecutive probation.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an officer saw Lippert’s vehicle traveling west on U.S. Route 322 and ran its registration, which had expired. The officer then activated his lights as the vehicle pulled into the Clearfield Mall parking lot.
At first the vehicle appeared to recognize the officer’s attempt at a traffic stop. Then it suddenly accelerated toward the exit, sliding sideways as it picked up speed and merged back onto U.S. Route 322.
As the officer followed, the vehicle turned onto the ramp for westbound state Route 879.
To keep up with the vehicle, the officer said he reached speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Another officer traveling on South Second Street saw the vehicle approach the intersection with SR 879 and then run through the red light, almost hitting his vehicle.
With two police vehicles in pursuit, Lippert’s car continued to speed down Washington Avenue in Hyde.
A third police officer at the end of Washington Avenue took the lead in the pursuit, as the vehicle traveled onto Bailey Settlement Highway.
The pursuit continued as the vehicle went through stop signs and continued to speed into Curwensville until it headed down Laurel Run Road, which is a dead end.
Lippert’s vehicle did an abrupt turn and was able to get around the first police car, and the second car swerved right to avoid a collision.
Lippert’s vehicle also swerved to his right as Lippert lost control and traveled off the road, colliding with trees and finally stopping.
After he was taken into custody, it was discovered that Lippert had two outstanding warrants for traffic offenses.