23-05-2025
Police: Clearfield man leads high speed chase in stolen truck across counties
BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Clearfield man is in jail after police say he led them in a high-speed chase in a stolen truck across Blair and Bedford counties.
Donald Meyer, 50, was arrested on I-99 in Altoona Thursday evening after the chase ended when the truck crashed in a construction zone on the Plank Road overpass at Exit 31. According to a criminal complaint, Meyer stole the 2024 Chevy Silverado at Reed Street in Clearfield.
Officers from the Clearfield Regional Police Department were alerted about the stolen truck at 6:22 p.m. and when to the scene to investigate. Police watched a security video that showed a white man wearing a black and yellow Pittsburgh Pirates sweatshirt steal the Silverado. Officers identified the man as Mayer and noted that he was known through 'various interactions' and 'other police incidents.'
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The truck was equipped with GPS, allowing officers to track the vehicle as it was driving on State Route 53 through Ashville and then south on State Route 36 toward Blair County. The Logan Township Police Department was then notified to be on the lookout for the stolen truck. A patrolman eventually spotted the truck on SR36 and pulled the vehicle over. Logan Township officers ordered Meyer to get out of the truck, but he allegedly drove away from the traffic stop and began the chase.
According to the complaint, Altoona police and Blair County Sheriffs assisted in the pursuit as Meyer drove through Altoona, speeding over 100 mph through residential areas. The chase eventually led to I-99 when Meyer drove to the southbound lane off the 17th Street exit and through a construction zone.
Hollidaysburg state police took over the chase as Meyer allegedly exited I-99 in Greenfield Township and drove into Bedford County on U.S. 220. Troopers attempted to use spike strips on the truck but Meyer was able to avoid them before re-entering I-99 northbound.
The truck eventually hit another set of spike strips that were used by Allegheny Township police in the area of mile marker 26. However, police said Meyer was able to continue fleeing and pass other drivers at high speeds in the lanes and the shoulder of I-99 north.
Meyer eventually crashed into the construction zone on the Plank Road overpass and was taken into custody. According to court documents, Meyer was wearing the black and yellow sweatshirt described by Clearfield Regional police and he was found to have a suspended driver's license.
Police noted that Meyer was convicted twice for driving on a suspended license and had numerous warrants from Clearfield County for various thefts and criminal trespass charges. I was also noted he had a criminal history dating back to 2001 that includes burglary, false identification to law enforcement, drug offenses, assaults and thefts.
Meyer was arraigned Friday morning before being placed in the Blair County Prison on $250,000 bail. He's charged with felony fleeing, receiving stolen property, two counts of criminal mischief, 20 misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of resisting arrest and various traffic-related charges.
According to the complaint, charges for the theft of the Chevy Silverado from the Clearfield Regional Police Department are pending.
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