Police: 14-Year-Old Girl Leads Cops On Chase

Four Other Kids Hospitalized

POSTED: 10:02 am MDT July 13, 2004

UPDATED: 2:36 pm MDT July 13, 2004

DENVER -- A 14-year-old Thornton girl was hospitalized, along with her four friends, after she took her family's car out for a joy ride, leading police officers on a high-speed chase that ended in a horrific crash Tuesday morning, police said Tuesday.

Westminster P.D.

This Chevy Cavalier rammed into an unattended utility service truck after crossing the 'T' intersection at Huron Street at Colorado Highway 7.

The girl was airlifted to St. Anthony's Central Hospital. A 13-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, both from Thornton, and 12- and 15-year-old sisters from Northglenn were transported to Children's Hospital and St. Anthony's Central.

Their conditions have not been released.

Westminster police say the chase began around 1:39 a.m. when an officer tried to stop a silver Chevrolet Cavalier near 114th Avenue and Huron Street.

Instead of pulling over, the driver of the Cavalier sped up, going 80 mph at times on Huron Street, police said. The officer gave up the pursuit at West 160th Avenue considering the risk to himself and other drivers, police said.

Westminster P.D.

All the kids in this car -- two 14 year olds, a 15 year old, a 13 year old and a 12 year old -- were taken to the hospital.

The Cavalier continued and crossed through the "T" intersection at Colorado Highway 7, going off the road and ramming into a large utility service truck that sat unattended just north of the road. The vehicle broadsided the truck at the rear passenger-side axle, police said.

After the accident, officers learned that the driver had taken the Cavalier without permission from a family member.

Highway 7, between Interstate 25 and County Road 7, was closed to all traffic from approximately 1:45 a.m. to 5:36 a.m. to allow for joint Westminster and North Metro Fire rescue operations and the police investigation.

The North Metro Accident Reconstruction Team, comprised of experienced accident investigators from the Colorado State Patrol, Northglenn, Broomfield, Thornton, and Commerce City police departments, responded to the scene and is conducting the police investigation.

After its investigation is complete, the accident reconstruction team will make recommendations to the Adams County district attorney whether charges should be filed and what charges could be filed.

It is unclear if alcohol was involved in the accident, but that factor is being investigated, police said.