A woman was killed, and nine other people were hurt in a three-vehicle collision in Northern California as a result of a 13-year-old kid taking the family car for a joyride, according to authorities.
In the accident on Saturday in Woodland, roughly 15 miles west of Sacramento, the teen also sustained injuries.
He has not been publicly identified.
"Unfortunately, kids are young, and they do not see their actions have consequences," Woodland police officer Victoria Danzl told local CBS affiliate KOVR. "Today this was pretty significant."
In Woodland, a city of 60,000 people, a cop saw the adolescent driving erratically around 4:25 p.m. along Main St. According to authorities, the teen was the only person in the automobile.
When the police attempted to stop the teenager, the juvenile sped away instead, starting a brief pursuit.
"I am totally in shock, nothing has ever happened here in Woodland like this," said Judy Fann who came to the scene when she heard about the crash.
According to Woodland Police Sergeant Victoria Danzl, an officer saw a car traveling recklessly northbound on College Street from Main Street.
"He attempted to stop the vehicle, at which time it started to flee from him," said Sgt. Danzl.
"It was a very short pursuit, so the hope is that their lights and siren are going to end the behavior," Danzl added.
The driver ultimately crashed, according to the police, at the intersection of College and Court streets. According to Sgt. Danzl, the 13-year-old suspect stole a family member's Honda Pilot.
"It is terrible," said Fann. "It took one life."
Nearly a dozen people were also hurt, but the one woman who died has not been named by police. Injured victims included the suspect and three youngsters.
Unidentified Woodland resident: "Whenever there is a high-speed chase, it results in a fatal collision with innocent people."
Several individuals arrived at the scene after hearing about the collision, hoping no one they knew was in the automobiles.
Woodland Fire arrived and requested four ambulances to respond to the scene. One person died and nearly one dozen people were injured. The extent of the injuries is being assessed.
— Woodland Police Department (@WoodlandPD) April 9, 2023
"You wonder if there is any other thing, they could have done besides chasing the culprit," said one Woodland resident, CBS News reported.
CBS13 questioned police about their decision to chase a car on a busy road and whether there was another way to defuse the situation.
"It was a very short pursuit, so the hope is that their lights and siren are going to end the behavior that the person is having," according to Sgt. Danzl.
The chase accelerated through the 25 MPH zone tonight, but that is not what happened.
Sgt. Danzl added, "Unfortunately, kids are young, and they do not see their actions have consequences," Unfortunately, today this was pretty significant."
Fann remarked, "Your parents always urge you not to leave town, and look what happens. "Accidents like this happen two miles from your home a lot."
The suspect, who is 13 years old, is in the hospital and was detained by police. Woodland PD said he could face charges of vehicular manslaughter.
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