The North Carolina State Highway Patrol charged a Wilson man on Tuesday after a 23-mile, high-speed chase on I-95 that ended with his vehicle bursting into flames in the woodline.

The man, 46-year-old Akram Paul, was wanted in Virginia for abduction.

Following the crash, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Regional Drug and Gang Task Force served Paul with a fugitive warrant for abduction, kidnapping, and assault, Major Anzell Harris said.

Paul remains in the Halifax County Detention Center. He is being held on a $14,500 secured bond for the driving infractions lodged by Trooper C.R. Hogg with the NCSHP, and no bond for the fugitive warrant served by the task force, according to jail records.

Harris said the events that led to Paul’s capture began Tuesday evening when detectives were contacted by Virginia authorities, who stated that a man wanted by the commonwealth had possibly fled to Halifax County — specifically to Weldon.

Detectives contacted the task force for assistance, and an agent located the vehicle at a motel.

Shortly after 6 p.m., deputies observed Paul entering the vehicle. He began traveling west into Roanoke Rapids. Agents and investigators attempted to stop Paul as he merged onto the southbound lane of I-95.

Harris said Paul rapidly accelerated, and agents and detectives began pursuing the vehicle at speeds in excess of 130 mph. The NCSHP and Nash County Sheriff’s Office joined the effort to stop him.

The NCSHP deployed spike strips in front of Paul’s vehicle, which deflated several of his tires. The vehicle came to a stop near the woodline at the 141 mile marker in the Dortches area and caught fire.

Paul was taken into custody and charged with felony fleeing/eluding arrest, reckless driving, speeding, driving while license revoked, fictitious registration, operating a vehicle with no insurance, improper passing, and no registration.

Hogg noted in his report that the chase reached a top speed of 138 mph and lasted for more than 23 miles.

Harris said the Battleboro Fire Department responded and extinguished the vehicle fire before it could spread.

On Wednesday, Paul was assigned a public defender and given a July 23 disposition hearing.

“The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Highway Patrol for their quick response and assistance with the incident,” Sheriff Tyree Davis said. “The three agencies working together prevented Paul from escaping capture.”