A driver being pursued by police turned around and drove the wrong way up the M60 in a desperate attempt to evade arrest. Amaar Abid, 38, was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf when officers tried to stop him after he drove through a red light on Alan Turing Way in east Manchester at around 1:20 am on Tuesday, June 10 last year.
Chase and Reckless Driving
Abid drove off and was chased by officers along Hyde Road through Gorton and Denton, then onto the M60 heading towards Oldham. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said he drove erratically throughout the pursuit, repeatedly slowing to a crawling pace on the motorway. Due to the dangerous manner of his driving, police implemented a rolling road block on the M60 to reduce risk to the public.
Wrong-Way Maneuver
Footage from a police car shows Abid, realizing his path was blocked, turning his car around and driving the wrong way up the motorway. Officers were forced to perform a tactical contact maneuver, deliberately crashing into him to bring the chase to a halt and arrest him.
Consequences and Sentencing
Police stated that Abid showed complete disregard for others' safety and that his actions could very easily have resulted in serious injury or death. On Wednesday, June 18, Abid, of Copster Hill Road, Oldham, was jailed for 38 weeks at Manchester Magistrates Court for dangerous driving. He was also fined £154, banned from driving for two years, and ordered to take an extended re-test to regain his license.
PC Oliver Garner from GMP's Roads Policing Unit said: "Amaar Abid's actions that night showed a complete disregard for the safety of everyone else on the road. Not only did he fail to stop for officers, but he drove erratically on the motorway and ultimately made the reckless decision to drive the wrong way on the M60 in a desperate attempt to avoid arrest. Driving towards oncoming traffic on one of the region's busiest motorways could very easily have resulted in life-changing consequences, causing serious injury or even loss of life. Thanks to the professionalism and quick decision-making of our officers, the pursuit was brought to a safe conclusion and Abid was taken into custody before anyone was harmed. We will continue to take robust action against those who choose to put the public at risk through dangerous driving. Our roads must be safe for everyone, and offenders who endanger lives can expect to face the full consequences of their actions."
