A 20-year-old man was arrested in Paphos early on Sunday morning following a dangerous high-speed pursuit that ended in a crash, police said on Monday.

Authorities said the incident began around 6 pm on Saturday, when police received a report about two individuals acting suspiciously in a vehicle.

Officers approached the vehicle, which had no registration plates, and signaled the driver to stop.

Instead, the driver accelerated, prompting a pursuit during which warning shots were fired.

The chase ended at a roundabout where the passenger, 18, exited the car and was immediately detained for questioning.

The driver initially fled, entering oncoming traffic and disappearing. A warrant for his arrest was issued later that day.

A police patrol located the 20-year-old driver at around 2am on Sunday.

When signaled to stop, he again attempted to flee, driving recklessly. He eventually lost control of the vehicle, striking a tree and overturning into a field.

The driver was arrested and tested positive for drugs. He was taken by ambulance to Paphos general hospital for treatment before being formally charged.