SALISBURY — A Raleigh man was arrested after a police chase that began in Rowan County ended when the man’s vehicle caught on fire after crashing in Davidson County.

The incident began when a deputy noticed a car traveling north on Interstate 85 with a temporary license tag that was unreadable, said Captain Mark McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy reportedly attempted to catch up to the car and stop it, having to reach speeds of up to 140 mph to do so. Eventually, the deputy reportedly caught up to the vehicle and attempted to perform a stop for speeding and following other cars too closely.

The driver did not stop, cutting across multiple lanes and almost hitting multiple cars, said McDaniel. The deputy reportedly chased the vehicle into Davidson County at speeds of approximately 110 mph. The vehicle erratically changed lanes multiple times and traveled off the left and right sides of the road, according to McDaniel. Around exit 87 in Davidson County, someone allegedly threw multiple items out of the car, including a black bag and a pink bag. 

Eventually, the vehicle lost its rear driver-side tire while approaching the Davidson County rest area. The tire rolled into a tractor-trailer, causing it to run into the concrete wall on the side of the road, according to McDaniel. The vehicle also ran into the same concrete wall before rebounding into the road and continuing to drive. The driver allegedly entered the rest area before returning to the interstate at speeds of approximately 45 mph.

Shortly after reentering the interstate, the vehicle veered off of the road at a sharp angle and ran into a tree. After the crash, the engine compartment of the vehicle caught on fire. said McDaniel. Both occupants of the vehicle, a man and a woman, exited the vehicle. McDaniel said that the man, identified as 26-year-old Raleigh resident Tahvier Jamell Cambridge, attempted to run on foot before realizing that he could not run due to the crash. Both occupants were reportedly secured away from the vehicle to wait for the fire and EMS response.

Cambridge said that he had leg pains, but McDaniel said Cambridge refused EMS treatment on scene and transport to the hospital. The woman, who has not been identified, was pregnant and was treated on scene before being transported to the hospital by EMS.

The fire was put out by firefighters without further incident.

Deputies searched the car and reportedly found marijuana Rice Krispy treats, nine millimeter ammunition, Oxycodone and a pistol conversion kit. A Thomasville Police Department officer searched Cambridge and found powder cocaine and crack cocaine on his person, according to McDaniel.

The deputies also reportedly determined that the car Cambridge had allegedly fled in was entered into the National Crime Information Center as stolen.

Cambridge was arrested and charged with felony possession of a stolen vehicle, felony possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with intent to manufacture, felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine, felony flee to elude, misdemeanor simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia.

Cambridge was transported to the Rowan County Detention Center and is being held without bond due to the Pretrial Integrity Act.