A 23-year-old man was arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in a crash into a tree, where the vehicle caught fire. The incident occurred on Thursday morning when a deputy stopped the vehicle on Interstate 85 for speeding. The driver, Malik Tai Douglas, initially stopped before speeding off and leading deputies on a chase through the streets of Salisbury.
The chase ended when Douglas lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree in the 1200 block of Long Ferry Road. The vehicle caught fire with both Douglas and a female passenger still inside. Deputies helped the pair escape from the burning vehicle, and they were treated by EMS personnel before being taken to the hospital.
At the hospital, Douglas attempted to leave before being arrested by deputies. The female passenger suffered non-serious injuries and was described as a victim who had tried to get Douglas to stop during the chase.
Douglas was charged with several offenses, including felony flee to elude, reckless driving, speeding, and failure to stop for sirens. He was taken to the Rowan County Detention Center without bond and is currently being held. This is not Douglas' first brush with the law, as he was out on bond for similar charges in Guilford County from September 2023.