The chase started at 1am this morning, Saturday January 4 on the A127 in Rayleigh as police started following a grey BMW they suspected was stolen.
When they signalled for the car to stop, it did not and police followed it onto the A13 whilst the car reached speeds of up to 135mph.
The car continued towards Tilbury through Chadwell St Mary and then crashed into a tree near to Hume Avenue.
The driver then left the vehicle and attempted to flee.
A police spokesman said: “Officers from our operational policing command, who were in the area at the time and who had been alerted to the incident, were then quickly on the scene and arrested a 19-year-old man from north London.
“Today, he is being questioned on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, taking a vehicle without consent, driving whilst uninsured and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.”
Chief Inspector Julia Finch, of the police’s operational policing command, said: “At all times, officers followed this vehicle safely and there was never any wider threat to our community.
“All officers involved in this incident are extremely well-trained to carry out their roles – and that training is especially important in extremely cold weather.”
The investigation will be progressed by officers in Southend.