Epping Man Arrested for DUI After Portsmouth Crash

A local man was arrested last night after allegedly crashing his car into a telephone pole, reportedly trying to evade capture by state police.

Joshua St. Laurent, 26, of Epping, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. on April 25, 2015, and charged with aggravated DUI and disobeying a police officer.

According to New Hampshire State Police, a trooper received a report about a possible impaired driver leaving the New Hampshire State Liquor and Wine Outlet at the Portsmouth Traffic Circle.

The trooper found the suspect vehicle, a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta, and attempted to perform a traffic stop “after observing motor vehicle violations,” but the driver reportedly refused to stop. The trooper pursued the vehicle and the driver “lost control of the vehicle, colliding into a telephone pole and an unoccupied parked car on Middle Street,” according to state police.

The driver, St. Laurent, was taken into custody and transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

“The roadway was closed for less than an hour and alternate routes were established for other motoring traffic,” according to Sgt. Steven Cooper. “The NH State Police were assisted by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments.”

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire State Police. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

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