Staff writer
A Smith Township man faces multiple charges after fleeing from a crash in Mt. Pleasant Township and almost hitting crews from Hickory Telephone Co. and state Department of Transportation Tuesday afternoon.
Allen Eugene Coburn, 29, of Lincoln Street, Bulger, was charged by police with 14 counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of endangering the welfare of children and numerous traffic violations.
Township police said the telephone company was running new lines on McCarrell Road at Kelley Lane about 1:40 p.m. when Coburn drove over the crest of a hill at a high speed. His car struck a vehicle driven by Quinn Krocker, 30, of Hickory. Krocker and four children in her vehicle, ranging in age from 1 to 8, were not injured.
"They had the proper warning signs for the work zone and flagmen ahead," said township police Sgt. Lou McQuillen.
Coburn quickly backed up and sped away. A telephone company flagman had to dive out of the way and three other workers had to jump back to avoid being hit.
Coburn continued on McCarrell and as he approached Donaldson road, PennDOT had a work zone set up with signs warning motorists. Four PennDOT workers had to jump out of the way as Coburn continued to flee.
"We are very lucky no one was hurt or killed," McQuillen said. "PennDOT and the telephone company did everything by the book as far as warning drivers."
One of the telephone workers was able to get a license number and good description of the car that was broadcast to surrounding departments.
South Strabane Township police stopped Coburn a short time later at Trinity Point.
McQuillen said that witnesses indicated that a young child was in the car. When South Strabane police stopped Coburn, they found a 9-year-old child in the front seat and a 19-month-old toddler unrestrained in the back seat. The children were released to their mother.
Coburn was placed in Washington County Jail on a bench warrant issued June 5, 2007, by Judge Paul Pozonsky on charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property after an all-terrain vehicle was stolen in August 2006 from Gander Mountain, Washington Crown Center. The charges filed by Mt. Pleasant police on Thursday will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Valarie Costanzo.