Conway SC man’s car bursts into ‘fireball of flames’ after 100 mph police chase

A Conway man has been arrested following a 100 mph police chase that ended with his car “bursting into a fireball of flames,” according to a police report.

Michael Dylan Wagoner, 24, was arrested Sunday by the South Carolina Highway Patrol for reckless driving and failure to stop for a blue light. Wagoner is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

Horry County Police were called to a loud party complaint about 11 p.m. Saturday at Hughes Landing outside Galivants Ferry, according to the incident report. As officers approached Wagoner’s parked vehicle, he drove off.

Police followed him with lights and sirens on, signalling Wagoner to pull over, the report said. Wagoner drove down Hughes Landing Drive and turned right on to Pee Dee Road South.

Once on Pee Dee Highway, Wagoner allegedly began driving around 100 mph and hit the brakes suddenly several times, according to the incident report. After several miles, the officer noticed a clear liquid running out of the car and smelled gasoline. “A moment later the arrestee vehicle bursted into a fireball of flames,” as it traveled down the highway, the incident report stated.

The vehicle came to a stop on Pee Dee Highway near Antioch Road and the officer ran to the vehicle, but did not see Wagoner in the fiery car, the report said. Horry County Fire Rescue was called to extinguish the fire as the car “was completely involved.”

A friend of Wagoner’s said she had his location and Wagoner had called her to ask if she could pick him up. Police used that the location to look for him, but he left when he saw police. His friend picked him up and officers pulled her over and arrested Wagoner.

Wagoner had scratches on his face after running through the woods and was brought to the hospital where staff cleared him for incarceration. The incident report did not mention if anyone else was harmed.