A South Carolina man was jailed last week after leading state police on a high speed chase that spread over four counties, beginning in Schuylkill and ending in a crash in Northampton County. As a result the driver is facing 80 charges.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said on Sept. 5 at 6:54 p.m. troopers were looking for a silver Dodge Durango involved in a retail theft at Kohl’s Department store in the Fairlane Village mall in Norwegian Township, Schuylkill County. Troopers saw a vehicle matching that description traveling speeding on Route 61 southbound in West Brunswick Township. The registration was obtained and it came back for a Honda sedan. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver continued southbound.

The chase continued south on Route 61 at a high rate of speed then onto Interstate 78 in Berks County. The chase continued eastbound on 78 into Lehigh County and then Northampton County. Spike strips were successfully used in slowing the vehicle down in Northampton County. The vehicle struck the strike strips causing the driver to lose control and strike the guide rail on the right side of the road. The vehicle eventually stopped and the driver taken into custody.

He was identified as Clifford Gavin, 52, of Vance, South Carolina. He was arraigned before on-call District Judge David J. Rossi, of Tremont on a total of 80 charges. Included in the charges is a felony 3 fleeing or attempting to elude police, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person and numerous motor vehicle summary offenses. He was committed to the county prison in Pottsville after failing to post $200,000 straight case bail.