13-year-old crashes stolen car while fleeing from police

A 13-year-old boy driving a stolen car filled with other teens got into a headon crash while fleeing police Monday night, critically injuring one of his passengers, according to San Jose police.

The injured passenger was still in the hospital Tuesday with life-threatening injuries, Sgt. Enrique Garcia said.

The crash was reported at 10:13 p.m., not long after patrol officers ran a routine license plate check of a blue 1995 Honda Accord traveling near McLaughlin Avenue and Tully Road, and discovered the car had been reported stolen, police said.

Once the initial patrol unit was joined by a backup unit, the officers activated their emergency lights in an attempt to perform a traffic stop on the Honda. But Garcia said the Honda driver turned off its headlights and sped away northbound on McLaughlin.

The officers decided not to chase the car out of safety concerns, Garcia said, and instead broadcast a description of the car and where it was headed to other officers in the area.

Soon after, a man driving a white 2014 Ford C-Max traveling south on McLaughlin was making a left onto Bacchus Drive when the fleeing Honda hit his car nearly head-on, Garcia said. The impact sent the Honda onto a sidewalk, causing the car to hit a traffic pole and skid to a stop.

The 13-year-boy driving the car was trapped in the wreck, and he was arrested, as were a 14-yearold girl and 16-year-old boy who were riding in the car and unsuccessfully tried to run away from the crash site.

Another 13-year-old boy riding in the car suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital. The other teens were also taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The Ford driver also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

All of the teen suspects — whose names were withheld because they are minors — were arrested on suspicion of auto theft. The driver, 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy were also booked on suspicion of resisting arrest, and the driver was additionally booked on suspicion of evading police.

Monday night’s crash occurred amid a multiyear rise in juvenile crime in Santa Clara County, particularly San Jose, recently detailed in an annual crime analysis by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information about the case can leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947STOP or at svcrimestoppers.org.