A driver made Nebraska state troopers sweat on Monday night after leading them on a high-speed chase that lasted about 16 minutes.
Authorities did not identify the driver because she is only 13 years old. Police eventually took her into protective custody along with a passenger in the vehicle, an 11-year-old boy.
State troopers, along with officers from the Shelton Police Department and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the chase scene, according to a news release issued after a trooper was able to stop the children, who were driving down an interstate highway at dangerously high speeds.
The pursuit began at around 9:30 pm on Monday, January 16, when a state trooper saw a vehicle driving 35 miles per hour. The car, a Nissan Pathfinder, was headed east on Interstate 80. The trooper attempted to stop the car near Kearney, but the driver did not cooperate.
Instead of stopping, the driver fled at a high-speed.
According to the Nebraska State Patrol, the vehicle would at times reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour. A trooper deployed stop sticks at the 288-mile marker to slow the vehicle down.
The teen girl then exited at the Shelton interchange and started diving north, this time at a much slower speed.
Another trooper saw a chance to stop the Nissan and took it. He performed a tactical maneuver, forcing the vehicle to stop. He took the girl and her young passenger into protective custody without incident, according to a statement.
A search inside the vehicle revealed a gun, marijuana, and some drug gear.
Nebraska’s Motor Vehicle Department states that drivers are only eligible for a learner’s permit at least two months before their 15th birthday. In addition, they can only drive if they have a licensed driver in the car who is at least 21 years old. A licensed driver must accompany them for a year until they turn 16 and are eligible for a driver’s license.