MEXICO, MO (KTVI) – The Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged a 20-year-old Mexico man for leading a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase that ultimately ended with the trooper dying in a crash.

The accident occurred August 28, 2015 on Highway FF in Audrain County, located in northeast Missouri.

Trooper James Bava was in his patrol vehicle when he noticed a speeding motorcyclist on the roadway and began a pursuit. The motorcyclist attempted to evade Trooper Bava, passing other vehicles at a high-rate of speed.

During the pursuit, Trooper Bava lost control of his vehicle, which left the roadway, struck a ditch, a fence, and some trees, and then caught fire. Bava died in the crash.

Following a months-long investigation, state police arrested Serghei Comerzan Monday morning.

Comerzan was charged with second-degree murder, resisting a lawful stop, resisting arrest by a state trooper, careless driving, excessive speeding, and failure to register a vehicle.