Man crashes into tree on Beech Street after brief police chase

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Aftermath of crash on Beech Street. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings

MANCHESTER, NH — Officer Robert Harrington of the Manchester Police Traffic Unit attempted to stop a motor vehicle at 1 p.m. on Jan. 10 when he noticed an invalid inspection sticker on a van covered in snow and ice. The operator; Elijah Darling, 21 of Manchester, was traveling east on Hanover Street near Union Street when the officer attempted to stop him.

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Darling/MPD

Darling accelerated the 1999 Honda minivan when the officer activated his emergency lights. Darling passed another eastbound vehicle when he realized the officer was behind him and illegally passed the 2008 Prius on the left before he abruptly turned right in front of the car causing damage to the front quarter panel of the Prius and damage to the passenger side of his car. The 71 year-old Prius operator was shaken up but not injured as a result of Darling’s actions.

Darling then sped through the Cumberland Farms parking lot, located at 275 Hanover St., where he narrowly missed additional cars and pedestrians. He passed through the parking lot and drove across Beech Street toward McHugh’s Funeral Home, 283 Beech St. Darling’s vehicle halted in front of McHugh’s Funeral Home when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree south of the funeral home entrance.

Darling ran from the van, but Officer Harrington caught up to him and ordered him to the ground. He complied and was placed into custody without further incident. He was charged with reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, two counts of conduct after an accident. The officer also charged him with an outstanding electronic bench warrant and discovered he was operating without a valid license.

Darling is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester for the electronic bench warrant and Hillsborough County Superior Court-North for yesterday’s charges on January 11, 2018.

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!