Chase of motorcyclists exceeds 130 mph

A police chase of two speeding motorcycles started in Jackson County and ended in Bartholomew County with the arrests of two Kentucky men Friday night.

Speeds reached more than 130 mph as troopers pursued the motorcycles from northbound 49-mile marker south of Seymour before traffic slowed the speeding bikers near the 67-mile marker just south of Columbus.

Trooper Derrek Simpson was working traffic on I-65 southbound near the 47-mile marker when he reported clocking the motorcycles at 90 and 131 mph, Sgt. Don Gregory of the Indiana State Police said.

Trooper Matthew Holley, working a traffic stop near the northbound 49-mile marker, activated his lights and siren as the two motorcycles approached. Instead of stopping, they passed by accelerated to speeds greater than 130 miles per hour, police said.

Holley pulled out into the driving lane, pursuing the fleeing motorcyclists. The motorcycles eventually slowed because of traffic, allowing the troopers to close in. The motorcycles then split up, with one driving between two semis near the 51-mile marker and the other passing traffic on the emergency shoulder of the interstate, police said.

Holley, seeing that the two motorcyclist were not stopping, radioed ahead to the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department, requesting assistance. Their help resulted in stopping the two motorcyclists near the 67-mile marker. They were taken to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown, where they were both being charged with resisting law enforcement, a Class D Felony, reckless driving, driving while suspended and speeding.

Arrested were Anthony R. Floyd, 27, and Clifford H. Morton, 22, both from Lexington, Ky.