Roanoke Rapids Police Department Department Deputy Chief Andy Jackson said the name of the suspect is not being released until investigation into the matter is completed.
The driver of the vehicle was airlifted to Vidant in Greenville and was in serious condition, Gaston Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Porter said in a statement.
Jackson said the attempted larceny call came in around 5 p.m. at a downtown area convenience store, which he declined to immediately name.
Officers arrived and spotted the vehicle. At point the driver got out of the vehicle and a short foot chase ensued. The driver, however, doubled back and got back in the vehicle in the downtown mill village area and fled.
The chase carried officers into Northampton County and shortly before 5:30 p.m. Gaston received a call of a T-bone collision between the alleged suspect and a tractor-trailer on Highway 186 in Seaboard. Roanoke Rapids officers lost sight of the car in Gaston and the chase was picked by other agencies.
Porter said in the statement the male driver of the Dodge Charger was found pinned inside. Using hydraulic rescue cutters and spreaders, both driver’s side doors and the B post were removed. The roof of the vehicle was removed along with the steering wheel. The dash was pushed off the driver using the Jaws of Life.
The man was removed from the vehicle and placed in the care of Northampton County paramedics before being airlifted from the scene.
Porter said the vehicle was estimated to have been traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour upon impact and burst into flames.
The tractor-trailer driver and a Northampton County deputy extinguished the flames.
Firefighters remained on scene for approximately 40 minutes.