Interstate chase hits 120 mph
A Pittsburgh man was arrested and state police are obtaining an arrest warrant for a Wilkinsburg man after the two led troopers on a high-speed chase on interstates 70 and 79 on their motorcycles.
Michael Anthony Harshey, 29, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody on a Carnegie street. Police were obtaining a warrant from District Judge Jay Weller for Antonio Joseph Fazio, 31, of Wilkinsburg, after he reported lied to troopers when he denied knowing Harshey.
Trooper Frank Lewis was on patrol about 7 p.m. and getting on Interstate 70 at Jessop Place, Canton Township. He spotted two motorcycles going east, weaving in and out of traffic, at a high rate of speed. Lewis tried to stop them, but the motorcycles continued to Interstate 79 north at the north junction. The motorcycles reportedly got on the left shoulder of the bridge that takes I-79 north over I-70, passing three vehicles.
The motorcycles then passed several vehicles in the same lane at speeds in excess of 120 mph before one, later identified as driven by Fazio, pulled over just south of the Meadow Lands exit. He claimed he did not know the other cyclist.
Lewis warned him he would face criminal charges if it was determined he lied about knowing the other rider.
Harshey continued north on I-79. Another trooper tried to stop him, but Harshey allegedly passed a tractor-trailer on the right shoulder and continued north, weaving in and out of traffic and still traveling at more than 120 mph. He got off at the Carnegie exit, turning onto Noblestown Road and going into Carnegie. When state police lost sight of him, the pursuit ended.
Harshey was taken into custody when he was spotted getting off his motorcycle. Harshey said he and Fazio had ridden together to Wheeling, W.Va., showing Lewis text messages the two exchanged about the ride.
Harshey was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Ethan Ward on four counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police and being a habitual offender in addition to several traffic violations, including driving under suspension and speeding.
He was placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled for a March 31 preliminary hearing before Weller.
Fazio is charged with reckless endangerment, hindering apprehension and fleeing or eluding police in addition to traffic violatons, including speeding and reckless and careless driving.