Charges filed after high-speed chase
MIDDLESEX TWP — A township man is accused of leading police on a car chase during which speeds hit 100 mph.
On his way Nov. 15 over a number of roads, Jeffrey P. McAfee, 40, allegedly sideswiped one car and nearly collided head-on with an off-duty police officer's vehicle.
McAfee faces a list of charges, including one felony, in the case.
Middlesex Township police were advised of a speeding red Audi sedan on Harbison Road about 5 p.m. The car almost hit an off-duty officer's car and also ran a stop sign at Forsythe and McFann roads.
Patrolman Bryan Costanzo came upon the suspect vehicle at Route 8 and McFann Road. McAfee's reckless driving caused several other motorists to hit their brakes, police said.
McAfee allegedly ran two more stop signs at McFann Road and Old Route 8 and at Old Glade Mill and Glade Mill roads.
During the chase, Costanzo said, he clocked the car at speeds of about 100 mph, documents said. McAfee also passed a car and a dump truck pulling a trailer in a no-passing zone.
At Glade Mill and Logan roads, police said, he sideswiped a car. Costanzo went to check on the other driver, who was not injured, and notified other departments to be on the lookout for the Audi.
Police went to McAfee's home but he was not there. Costanzo the next day got an arrest warrant for him.
McAfee turned himself in to police Nov. 17.
He admitted driving the car, Costanzo said Thursday, but claimed he was “out of it” and didn't know what he was doing.
When the officer asked McAfee where his car was, he claimed a friend had it. He declined to discuss anything more about the car, Costanzo said.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned McAfee on a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police and a misdemeanor charge of hit-and-run.
He also was cited for driving at an unsafe speed, failing to report an accident to police, careless driving, reckless driving and three stop sign violations.
He is free on $10,000 bail while waiting his preliminary hearing Jan. 24 at Haggerty's office in Saxonburg.
