A federal lawsuit has been filed against a state police trooper in Clearfield County for allegedly using deadly force, resulting in the death of a 38-year-old man.
According to the lawsuit, in April of last year, Trooper Craig Hooven attempted to pull over Matthew Chelgren for an issue with the license plate on his vehicle.
The lawsuit states that Chelgren did not pull over, leading to a pursuit with state police.
The lawsuit goes on to say that the chase ended on Harper Mine Road, in Curwensville, after Trooper Hooven reportedly used a precision immobilization technique, known as a PIT maneuver, on Chelgren's car.
The lawsuit argues that, at that location, it was "almost certain" the vehicle would be forced to hit a tree.
Authorities say Chelgren did hit a tree and died at the scene.
Chelgren's family, along with an attorney out of Pittsburgh, filed the lawsuit, claiming the force used was “unreasonable and excessive.”
6 News also spoke with a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
He says cases like this have been in court before but says a former United States Supreme Court case may suggest otherwise.
Scott versus Harris, a case from 2007, decided that a car chase posed a threat to others and the use of the PIT maneuver was reasonable.
We also reached out to state police who said, "we don't offer comment on pending or active litigation."
The attorney representing Chelgren’s estate also won't comment at this time.
As this is a civil matter, Trooper Hooven is not facing any charges in the death of Matthew Chelgren.
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