Biker clocked at 170 km/h on QEW

Complaints from the motoring public helped the police take two speeding St. Catharines motorcycle riders off the road Tuesday night.

Police received reports about two motorcycles, an orange 2005 Suzuki and a green 2008 Kawasaki, travelling at high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic on the Niagara-bound QEW.

Officers from the Niagara detachment of the OPP were eventually able to stop the motorcycles when traffic slowed down at the Lake Street off-ramp in St. Catharines at about 11:30 p.m.

One officer clocked the bikes travelling at 170 km/h, said Const. Rob Knight of the OPP.

“It is sometimes challenging for us to get the bikes stopped, identified and charged because of the safety issues,” Knight said. “They are very fast and manoeuvrable.

“Police are, of course, prohibited from engaging in unsafe behaviour that might put the officer — or other members of the public — in danger while in pursuit. The bikers, unfortunately, don’t operate within the law and have no limits. If they flee, there is no cruiser made that can keep up.”

The first rider, Gregory Eitze, 39, was charged with stunt driving.

The second rider, who was carrying a female passenger, was stopped shortly after the first one.

He received minor injuries during the arrest, which he resisted. He was taken to St. Catharines hospital where he was assessed with minor injuries. The officer wasn’t injured in the assault.

Adam Chataway, 40, was charged with stunt driving, assault with intent to resist arrest, impaired operation of a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, and driving with an improper licence.

Police impounded both motorcycles for seven days on the stunt driving charge.

Police suspended Eitze’s licence for seven days on the stunt driving charge.

The OPP suspended Chataway’s licence for 90 days on the alcohol charge.

The charges are now before the courts.