PHOTOS: Accused armed robber wrecks SUV into building in downtown Canton

CANTON, N.C. (WLOS) — UPDATE: The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has identified the driver in this wreck as Ruslan Adam Thompson, 26, of 50 Westmore Drive in Asheville. They say there is no further information to release regarding the incident at this time.

A Canton car chase ended with a crash, and the man behind the wheel is wanted nationwide on armed robbery charges.

Police say the chase began after an officer identified the driver as a suspect with several outstanding warrants, and attempted a traffic stop in Buncombe County.

The warrant is for felony fleeing to elude arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in Buncombe County.

Police tell us the driver lead them on a chase starting at Rainbo Lane and Justice Ridge Road just after 6:30 Saturday night.

Eventually the chase led police down Smokey Park Highway and into Haywood County.

The pursuit ended after the SUV hit a building and an unoccupied car on Main Street in Canton.

Police say the two people in the SUV were both taken to Mission Hospital to be treated for injuries they sustained. There is no word yet as to their condition.

Cleanup of at Verbena Soap Company was still underway Sunday morning.

No officers were injured.

Stay with News 13 as this story develops.

Here's the full release from the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department:

Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Involved in Pursuit this Evening

Haywood County—Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office deputies were involved in a pursuit this evening that ended in Haywood County. The pursuit began after deputies identified the driver as a suspect with several outstanding warrants in both Buncombe and Haywood Counties, and attempted a traffic stop. The driver was wanted nation-wide for armed robbery by Haywood County, and had outstanding warrants for felony fleeing to elude arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in Buncombe County. The driver of a vehicle gave chase at Rainbow Lane and Justice Ridge Road at 18:34, going from Justice Ridge Road to Meadowbrook Road; from Meadowbrook Road to Fairmont, and from Fairmont to Smokey Park Highway. The vehicle then made a right on to Smokey Park Highway, traveling into Haywood County. The pursuit ended after the vehicle hit a building and an unoccupied vehicle on Main Street in Canton at 18:41. The two subjects in the vehicle were transported to Mission Hospital to receive treatment for injuries sustained from the collision; there were no injuries to law enforcement involved in the pursuit.

The Canton Police Department will be the investigating agency into the collision portion of this incident. The investigation into this incident is ongoing; there is no further information to release at this time.