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Minivan Crashes Onto MBTA Station Stairs After Police Chase

RANDOLPH (CBS) – A minivan attempting to evade police crashed and ended up on the stairs of an MBTA station in Randolph on Saturday.

Police identified the driver as 28-year-old William Ayers, formerly of Holbrook. Authorities say Ayers led them on a chase through the town, a chase that resulted in the police cruiser getting hit three times.

Ayers turned his gold van onto the railroad tracks towards Braintree, trying to avoid being stopped.

But the man was looking straight at a train sitting on the tracks. To avoid the train, he turned onto the stairs at the Holbrook/Randolph station on Union Street. That's when Ayers came to the pedestrian barricade.

Holbrook/Randolph Crash
A van crashed into an MBTA station following a police chase in Randolph. (Image Credit: Steve Delmonte/WBZ-TV)

He got out of his van and led officers on a short foot chase until one of the pursuing officers used his taser to bring Ayers down. That allowed police to catch and arrest him.

Police say they initially tried to stop Ayers for driving with a suspended license, but after searching the van, they say they found drugs and drug parephenalia.

Holbrook/Randolph Crash
A minivan is removed from a Commuter Rail station after a crash. (Image Credit: Steve Delmonte/WBZ-TV)

Holbrook police said in a statement that they're going to charge Ayers with, "Operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, failure to stop for the police, possession with intent to distribute class E prescription drugs without a prescription, possession of class A drugs, possession of class C drugs, motor vehicle trespass and multiple traffic offenses."

MBTA engineers were sent to the station to make sure the platform was not damaged.

Authorities are not saying if they're holding Ayers and when he will be in court for arraignment on the charges.

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