A Latrobe man is accused of leading state police on a 23-mile pursuit through Unity Saturday night during which troopers said he drove 80 mph in a 40 mph speed zone, according to court papers.
Zachary Daniel Bowman, 32, was headed home from a night out when police said they spotted the Mitsubishi Outlander he was driving weaving on Route 981 in Unity around 11 p.m. The trooper tried to pull the SUV over on Charles Houck Road, but it accelerated onto Bell Memorial Church Road.
The trooper followed it on several winding rural roads into Pleasant Unity and onto Routes 130 and 982 before the SUV ran over spike strips set up by police at Route 130 and Pleasant Unity Mutual Road. Police in court papers described the SUV turning onto numerous residential streets including Dutch Hill Road, Hill Churches Road and others around Mammoth Park.
It eventually stopped on Route 130 and the driver, later identified as Bowman, ran before being apprehended after a 100-yard chase, according to court papers.
During the vehicle pursuit, troopers said Bowman drove into the opposite lane to pass another vehicle and drove into several yards. Bowman told police had been drinking beforehand. His blood was sent for analysis.
He is charged with fleeing from police, flight to avoid apprehension, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and numerous traffic violations. He was being held on $15,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison.
Bowman did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 8.
