PALO ALTO – Authorities on Thursday arrested four teenage runaways from a Nevada group home following a car chase and crash in Palo Alto.
The episode unfolded shortly after 2 a.m. when a patrol officer tried to stop the driver of a 2017 Kia Rio for a moving violation, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release.
The driver initially turned into a cul-de-sac near the intersection of Ross Road and Nathan Way and stopped. But as the officer was pulling behind the Kia, the driver made a U-turn and collided with the front end of the officer’s patrol car, according to police. The driver then turned onto Ross Road and headed toward East Meadow Drive.
The officer pursued the Kia, which eventually collided with a signal pole and raised curb near the intersection of East Meadow Drive and Alma Street, police said.
The crash triggered the Kia’s airbags and left the car inoperable, according to police.
The four occupants – a 15-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and two 13-year-old boys – were arrested without incident. The girl, who was driving, and one of the boys were treated by firefighters at the scene and taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
No other injuries were reported.
An investigation revealed the teens had run away from a group home in Las Vegas on Saturday, according to police. The Kia had been reported stolen out of Nye County, Nevada.
The girl was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, evading and possession of stolen property. The boys were also arrested and booked on possession of stolen property charges.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.