Jonathan Mendelsohn
In Woodland, California, a 13-year-old boy led police on a car chase after stealing a vehicle. The chase, unfortunately, ended with the boy crashing into two other vehicles, injuring 10 people including himself, and killing one.
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Authorities reported that the young teen, who had two other juveniles in the stolen car with him, stole the vehicle this past Saturday. The boy was spotted by police “driving erratically” on Saturday afternoon, who then decided to pursue the vehicle.
Deadly Police Chase with Juvenile
In an official statement, the Woodland Police Department said, “The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over and then pursued the car to the intersection of College and Court Streets. The car collided with two other vehicles causing two cars to catch fire.”
The person who lost their life in the crash has been identified as Tina Vital. At the time of the crash, Vital was driving with her two adult children as well as her granddaughter, who is just 5 years old. After the boy slammed into two cars, Vital was trapped inside her vehicle. Vital’s passengers survived the incident, but it was reported that two of the passengers, including one of Vital’s adult sons and her young granddaughter, were admitted to the ICU. A GoFundMe page was set up by Vital’s family to help pay for funeral expenses and medical costs for the family members who are still recovering.
The teenage culprit is currently being treated for his injuries, but the Woodland Police Department stated that the boy will be booked into the Yolo County Juvenile Hall after he is well enough. The 13-year-old will be charged with two felonies, which are vehicular manslaughter with negligence and evading causing injuries. The charges are so severe partially because of the fact that the boy was driving a stolen car. It is not clear if the boy’s passengers will also be charged, but the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is currently conducting an investigation into the crash.
