MUST WATCH: Two girls, 16, involved in chase, crash, officials say

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — A chase Thursday afternoon from south Charlotte to South Carolina ended in a dramatic crash on Interstate 77 in Chester County.

[IMAGES: Chase ends in crash on I-77]

The Chester County Sheriff's Office said three people were inside the vehicle. Raekwon Jabari Johnson, 21, was driving the car and two 16-year-old girls were passengers, according to officials.

Johnson is charged with failure to stop for blue light, driving without a license and reckless driving. The 16-year-olds have not been charged.

(Raekwon Johnson)

It all began when Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a stolen tag reader on Tyvola Road and South Boulevard. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to pull over and fled from officers.

Police said the vehicle had been used in an armed robbery.

(Click PLAY to watch the chase end in a crash)

Chopper 9 Skyzoom followed the pursuit for nearly an hour as several officers followed the vehicle on I-77.

The chase went into South Carolina, where the driver exited off of I-77 and drove through some back roads. Chopper 9 followed the suspect all the way into Chester County.

The suspect then went back onto northbound I-77 where the driver sideswiped another car before veering off the road and crashing at Exit 65, near a rest stop.

Officers took the two 16-year-olds into custody immediately, while Johnson ran off into the woods. He was taken into custody a couple of hours later.

Johnson has been arrested seven times since 2015.

This year, he was arrested and charged with stolen motor vehicle, hit and run, and misdemeanor larceny.

The man who owned the car involved in the chase was warming it up early Monday morning when someone stole it.

Victor Elizalde had no idea it ended up in a high-speed chase with CMPD officers.

"I feel frustrated because (the suspects) don't understand how hard I worked to purchase this vehicle," Elizalde said.

Elizalde said he's upset his car could be beyond repair.

“I'm glad they (caught) those people and I am (going to) press charges,” he said.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: