A Florida Highway Patrol trooper died after he crashed into a tree during a chase on Interstate 4 Saturday afternoon.

Officials said Trooper Darryl Haywood from Palm Coast was trying to slow down a racing motorcycle about half-way between Orlando and Daytona Beach just after 1:30 p.m. when apparently lost control of his car. The impact with the tree was so severe that the FHP cruiser split in two.

The speeding motorcyclist was spotted about 30 minutes later by a St. Johns County sheriff's deputy, stopped and arrested.

FHP officials said Donald Williams, 38, of Seffner was being held in the St. Johns County Jail on a felony aggravated fleeing and eluding charge. Additional charges against Williams may be pending.

Investigators suspect a right rear tire on Haywood's Chevrolet Camaro cruiser blew, causing the patrol to hit an Audi driven by 24-year-old Thomas Evanchik, of Daytona Beach.

Officials say the patrol car flipped several times and slammed into a tree on the south side of the interstate.

Evanchik was taken to Halifax Medical Center with minor injuries.

Haywood was a four-year veteran of the FHP and a retired New York City homicide detective. He was honored as Trooper of the Month in July for pulling a person from a burning car. He is survived by his wife, two children and a grandchild.