By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer

   A Pierceton man made his first appearance in Whitley Superior Court this week on charges he fled police at speeds of almost 100 mph while intoxicated with his three young daughters in the van at the time.
   Twenty-eight-year-old Thomas E. Seymour had his initial hearing on charges faces charges of resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended, operating while intoxicated, operating while intoxicated per se, reckless driving and three counts of neglect and endangerment of a dependent following the events the night of July 5.
   According to the case report, a Columbia City police officer tried to pull over Seymour after noticing the van he was driving was allegedly making “erratic” lane movements on the west side of town on U.S. 30.
   When the officer tried to stop the westbound van, it pulled into the turn lane for Armstrong Drive and then back onto U.S. 30 where it continued west at about 95 mph, according to the report.
Seymour pulled over near county Road 400 West, and after being arrested, police found three young girls inside the van, according to the report.
   A portable Breathalyzer test done at the site of the traffic stop showed Seymour had a blood alcohol content of .21, which was the same reading as a certified test done later at the Whitley County Jail.
   According to the report, Seymour did not know one of the three children was in the van at the time, and thought his wife was following him in the van instead with the third child.
   The mother of the children came to pick up the children that same night.
   Seymour will have a pre-trial conference the first week of August regarding the charges.