UPDATED July 7 at 12:20 p.m.
A motorcyclist trying to escape Columbus County deputies struck another vehicle in Bladen and died Monday evening.
Emergency officials confirmed that the motorcycle operator crashed into another vehicle at N.C. 87 and Kennedy Store Road at East Arcadia, just across the street the Bladen-Columbus line.
One person in the other vehicle was injured, and was transported to New Hanover Regional with non-life threatening injuries.
N.C. 87 was blocked in both directions for several hours following the crash.
Sheriff W.R. “Bill” Rogers said deputies from the HEAT team were on patrol on N.C. 87 when the motorcycle passed them in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed. The deputies turned around and initiated pursuit. Speeds reportedly reached 130 miles per hour at one point.
The names of the motorcyclist and the driver of the vehicle he struck have not been released.
The Highway Patrol’s investigating the crash. This is a developing story.
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