DAVENPORT, Fla. – A 19-year-old Orlando man was arrested after the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said he was going at an extremely high speed on Interstate 4 near Davenport before his motorcycle caught fire.
Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, a deputy spotted a motorcyclist near mile marker 55 on I-4 westbound. The deputy detected a motorcycle traveling at a speed topping out at 130 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to an arrest report.
The deputy activated his siren and emergency lights to stop the motorcyclist, but the rider did not slow down or pull over. Due to the dangerous speed and circumstances, the deputy decided to stop the pursuit, deputies said.
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Shortly after, dispatch reported a motorcycle fire near mile marker 52 on I-4 westbound. The deputy arrived at the scene and found a black Honda motorcycle and its rider, identified as Najier Tyrique Haines, wearing a black hoodie with faux diamonds and a black helmet, the arrest report states.
Haines told the deputy he was on his way to his uncle’s house and had recently stopped to fuel up at a nearby 7-Eleven. The deputy confirmed no other motorcycles passed through the area during that time, and there were no exits or entrances between mile markers 55 and 48.
The investigation concluded that Haines was the rider who fled the stop at a dangerous speed. The motorcycle fire was caused by a malfunction, which forced him to stop.
Haines was arrested and taken into custody. He faces charges including fleeing to elude, dangerous excessive speeding, and reckless driving. He was also cited for riding without a license plate.
Under Florida’s “Super Speeder” law, effective July 1, excessive speeding is now classified as a criminal offense instead of a civil traffic violation.
The law targets drivers who exceed 100 mph or drive 50 mph or more over the posted speed limit. It gives law enforcement to make arrests, impound vehicles, and impose jail time and hefty fines.