A 27-year-old Pennsylvania man faces multiple criminal charges after a motorcycle accident that left his 7-year-old daughter injured when she was trapped beneath the vehicle following a crash on a suburban road.
Dallas Coburn has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, driving under the influence, making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, and tampering with physical evidence following the April 13 incident in Canton Township, located southwest of Pittsburgh.
According to the Greene Washington Regional Police Department, Coburn was operating his motorcycle on Jefferson Avenue with his young daughter positioned on the gas tank in front of him when the crash occurred. Video footage from the scene shows two vehicles slowing down on the roadway as Coburn’s motorcycle approached from behind at high speed.
As the motorcycle operator attempted to brake, the vehicle fell onto its side and skidded across the pavement before spinning. The crash trapped the child underneath the motorcycle, a scene captured in harrowing detail by emergency dispatch recordings.
Dispatch audio from the incident reveals the severity of the situation, with the dispatcher noting that two riders were involved, including a child who was screaming. Witnesses at the scene observed Coburn immediately confronting the driver of an SUV that had been traveling ahead of him, shouting profanities and appearing to blame the other motorist for the accident.
Rather than waiting for emergency responders to arrive, Coburn placed his daughter in a bystander’s vehicle and left the scene on his motorcycle. The child was transported to a local hospital where police later encountered Coburn.
During their interaction with law enforcement at the medical facility, Coburn allegedly displayed signs of intoxication and admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that day. He refused to submit to a blood test when requested by officers. In a concerning development, Coburn removed his daughter from the hospital before medical staff had cleared her for discharge.
Police Chief William DeForte of the Greene Washington Regional Police Department emphasized the fortunate outcome given the circumstances, noting that the child was extremely lucky to have survived without requiring extended hospitalization. The chief highlighted multiple safety violations that contributed to what he described as a recipe for disaster.
Investigators discovered that Coburn lacked proper licensing to operate a motorcycle and the vehicle was uninsured and had not passed required inspection. The practice of carrying a child on a motorcycle’s gas tank represents a serious safety violation that significantly increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Additional charges filed against Coburn include operating a vehicle without valid inspection, providing false information to authorities, interfering with a driver, and improper motorcycle operation. Court records indicate that prosecutors are pursuing the full range of charges related to both the accident itself and Coburn’s actions in its aftermath.
The case has drawn attention to motorcycle safety practices and the responsibilities of parents when transporting children on motor vehicles. Proper safety equipment and approved seating positions are critical factors in preventing serious injuries during motorcycle accidents.
Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Coburn, who remains at large. The investigation continues as police work to locate the suspect and ensure the ongoing welfare of the child involved in the incident.
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