Dallas Coburn holds his daughter after his motorcycle crashed (KDKA/YouTube).
A man from Pennsylvania is facing serious charges after allegedly crashing his motorcycle while his daughter was precariously seated on the gas tank, subsequently trapping her beneath the vehicle. The man reportedly removed her from the hospital before she was officially discharged.
Dallas Coburn, aged 27, has been charged with a range of offenses related to the April 13 incident. These include child endangerment, driving under the influence, issuing terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, and tampering with evidence, among others.
According to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime, Coburn also faces accusations of improper motorcycle operation, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection, providing false information, and interfering with a driver.
On that day in April, Coburn was seen riding his motorcycle with his 7-year-old daughter seated on the gas tank, as reported by the Greene Washington Regional Police Department to Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate KDKA. The incident occurred on Jefferson Avenue in Canton Township, located just southwest of Pittsburgh.
Video of the crash shows two vehicles slowing down on the road as the motorcycle speeds up behind them. As the motorcycle driver appears to attempt to brake, the motorcycle falls onto its side, skids, and then spins, apparently trapping Coburn”s daughter underneath.
A 911 call obtained by local media revealed the tense moments following the crash. The dispatcher can be heard saying, “Motorcycle laid down on the roadway. Two riders, one is a child. … Child is screaming.”
“Motorcycle laid down on the roadway,” the dispatcher says. “Two riders, one is a child. … Child is screaming.”
Coburn reportedly jumped up from the motorcycle and screamed at the driver of the SUV that was in front of him. “What the f— is wrong with you,” he appears to yell before placing his daughter back on the motorcycle and allegedly threatening the other driver.
Other vehicles stopped by the side of the road to see whether anyone needed help. Coburn left before authorities arrived, putting his daughter in another person’s vehicle before leaving the scene on his bike, police said.
The child was brought to an area hospital, where Coburn also was, and officers spoke with him. He allegedly admitted to drinking earlier, showed signs of intoxication, and refused to do a blood test. Coburn is said to have then left the hospital with his daughter before she was medically cleared to leave.
“It’s amazing that this girl didn’t suffer more injuries than what she did. She was very lucky, very lucky to have survived this without being hospitalized for a period of time,” Greene Washington Regional Police Chief William DeForte told KDKA. “The suspect did not have a motorcycle license, no insurance, no inspection, a child on the gas tank. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
A warrant is out for Coburn’s arrest.
