Biker charged in high-speed chase

AUBURN — A Minot man escaped serious injury Thursday in what police described as a high-speed chase up Perkins Ridge Road.

Maine State Police said Blaine Rozanski, 21, was clocked traveling 71 mph in a 40-mph zone on Perkins Ridge Road early Thursday night.

When a trooper activated his lights and sirens, Rozanski sped away on his motorcycle, reaching speeds of up to 131 mph, police said.

Trooper Ricci Cote pursued the rider, but the pursuit did not last long. Rozanski lost control of his motorcycle.

According to the police statement, Rozanski was unable to slow down in time to negotiate a sharp curve, causing him to go off the road and crash.

Rozanski’s motorcycle was demolished, police said. He was taken to a Lewiston hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and later released.

Rozanski was summonsed to court on charges of eluding police, criminal speed, driving to endanger, driving a motorcycle with an endorsement and attaching false plates.

Police said the chase and crash represents what appears to be a growing trend.

“Over the last month, Troop B has seen a number of cases where people driving motorcycles have taken off at extremely high speeds to avoid being stopped,” according to a Maine State Police bulletin. “Doing so is extremely dangerous, not only to the operator of the motorcycle, but to everyone on the roadway, and we urge anyone in this situation not to do so. It’s just not worth the risk to you and everyone else on the road.”