A Washington County father is facing criminal charges after a harrowing crash on Jefferson Avenue in Canton Township left his 7-year-old daughter trapped beneath his motorcycle, an incident caught on video that has since made its way to investigators. Police say the girl had been sitting on the bike's gas tank when the motorcycle skidded into traffic, and she wound up pinned underneath. Authorities say she avoided more serious injuries, a small miracle given how bad it could have been.
Crash Caught On Camera
Investigators say the collision happened when an SUV slowed to make a right turn, and the motorcycle did not brake in time, sending the child under the bike, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Video from the scene shows the rider confronting the SUV driver while other motorists rush in to help the girl. That footage has been turned over to police as the department continues its probe into what went wrong on that stretch of road.
Hospital Stop And The Arrest Warrant
Police identified the rider as Dallas Coburn. According to investigators, Coburn scooped up his daughter after the crash, placed her in a passerby's vehicle, then rode away from the scene before first responders arrived. Officers later located him at a hospital, where they say he showed signs of intoxication, admitted to drinking earlier, and refused a blood test. He is now facing charges that include DUI and recklessly endangering the welfare of a child, CBS Pittsburgh reports. Chief William DeForte told the outlet, "It's like putting a parachute on a child and throwing them out of an airplane. It's dangerous. It's reckless."
Investigation And Jurisdiction
Greene Washington Regional Police Department, which handles policing duties for Canton Township, is leading the investigation and serving as the primary local contact for the case. The agency is asking anyone with dashcam footage or first-hand information from the crash scene to come forward so investigators can complete their review.
Anyone with tips is urged to contact the Greene Washington Regional Police or Canton Township's non-emergency line. Local contact details are available through the township website.
