Police: Juveniles in stolen-car crash that left a teen with critical injuries were 15, 12 years old

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled a bystander’s name.

Police say three minors — all under 16 years old — were fleeing officers in a stolen car near Drake University and smashed into a truck, sending one teen to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said Tuesday a 15-year-old girl was driving the silver SUV about 3:30 p.m. Monday near the intersection of 31st Street and University Avenue, with a 12-year-old boy and 15-year-old boy as passengers, when the crash happened.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to a hospital and, as of Tuesday evening, remains in critical condition. Parizek said the other minors were treated for injuries, but not hospitalized. 

Police attempted to stop the car, Parizek said, but called off the chase as it neared Drake University's campus and speeds reached 60 mph. 

Officers were concerned the time of day, traffic and location of the chase posed a bigger safety threat to the public than the stolen car.

"We stopped chasing, but they kept moving," Parizek said Monday. "Sometimes, kids don't think past putting their foot on that accelerator."

The violent crash closed the intersection for about three hours, Parizek said. The truck was traveling eastbound on University when the juveniles ran a red light while southbound on 31st Street. 

Drake University students could be seen surveying the crash damage, which included a blood-splattered Chevy and a large truck missing a headlight.

Christopher Karch, a 21-year-old Drake student, said he was leaving the nearby Walgreens just before the collision happened.

"I didn't see the crash happen, but I could hear it over here on the intersection," the Wisconsin native said. "I heard a loud bang and I came over here. I saw a man who was handcuffed on the ground and then they pulled another guy out of the wreck, and he looked like he was pretty much lifeless."

Parizek said it appears the truck driver had the right of way. He was not injured. One male in the car suffered serious injuries, but the other two were left with minor injuries, police said.

Karch said he was surprised such a nasty collision happened near campus.

"I was kind of shocked because it's so close to home," he said. "I'm concerned, like, 'What if that was a kid walking across the street?"

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