MANCHESTER, NH — A Manchester driver crashed into a telephone pole after fleeing from police on Jan. 7, 2026.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., a Manchester Police officer observed a driver fail to stop at the intersection of Pine and Amherst streets and nearly hit another vehicle.
The officer activated his lights and siren to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not comply and took off at a high rate of speed.
The officer briefly followed the vehicle but called off the pursuit for safety reasons.
At the intersection of Valley and Union streets, the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a telephone pole.
The driver left the vehicle and fled on foot.
Officers caught up with him, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
The driver was identified as Joseph Ayoub, 39, of Manchester.
Police determined that Ayoub had hit another vehicle prior to crashing into the pole.
The driver of that vehicle went to the hospital with minor injuries.
Ayoub was charged with conduct after an accident, disobeying a police officer, driving after revocation/suspension and resisting arrest.
He was also found to have an electronic bench warrant out of Salem District Court.
