A Bridgeville man who state police say tore through Center Township traffic at 115 mph is now facing a prison term after admitting to a high-speed chase late last year. Fifty-year-old Craig Hayden pleaded guilty to fleeing officers and driving on a suspended license, and a judge responded with a mix of incarceration, probation and financial penalties. Hayden was then placed on electronic monitoring so he could immediately begin serving the jail portion of his sentence from home.
Judge's sentence and conditions
According to ButlerRadio, Hayden entered guilty pleas to fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, driving with a suspended license and exceeding the maximum speed limit. The outlet reports that the court handed down a sentence of 10 months to four years in prison, followed by 42 months of probation, along with 50 hours of community service and $6,074 in fines, fees and restitution. ButlerRadio notes that the judge immediately paroled Hayden at the time of sentencing so he could serve the prison term on an electronic monitoring device.
How the chase unfolded
State Police say the pursuit started after troopers ran the vehicle’s information and tried to stop Hayden on outstanding warrants from Butler and Westmoreland counties. Instead of pulling over, he allegedly took off along State Route 308, also known as West Sunbury Road, with speeds reaching up to 115 mph before troopers called off the chase for safety reasons. As reported by WPXI, troopers followed the vehicle for several miles and ended the pursuit near Mahood Road after roughly five miles because of the risk to other drivers and nearby homes.
What the law allows
Pennsylvania law treats running from police as a serious crime. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3733, willfully refusing to stop for an officer who is clearly signaling a driver to pull over is a criminal offense, and a high-speed chase that endangers the public can be graded as a felony. A separate vehicle code provision, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1543, covers driving while a license is suspended and carries its own fines and potential jail time.
Neighbors and background
Neighbors told WPXI they were stunned by how fast the vehicle was reportedly moving through the area and pointed out that an S-curve on West Sunbury Road already makes that stretch of roadway particularly hazardous. Local reporting and court records indicate that Hayden had prior DUI charges and outstanding warrants, which were the reasons officers attempted the traffic stop on Nov. 15, 2025.
The sentencing is the latest public development in the case. ButlerRadio includes in its coverage the court’s full disposition along with a breakdown of all the penalties imposed.
