At around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7, a devastating car accident involving a stolen vehicle occurred in Woodland, California, a city approximately 15 miles northwest of Sacramento. The driver of the stolen vehicle, a 13-year-old boy whose identity has not been disclosed due to his young age, caused the crash.
Woodland police initially noticed the vehicle being driven erratically near Main Street in the city. When officers attempted to approach the car, the young driver sped away, and a high-speed chase followed. Woodland Police Officer Victoria Danzl said that they had hoped that activating the police lights and sirens would cause the teenage driver to reduce his speed, but this did not happen.
The boy continued at a high speed into the intersection of Court Street and College Street, where he crashed into two other vehicles. Two of the three cars involved in the crash caught on fire. Emergency responders, including Woodland Fire and four ambulances, arrived at the scene. The accident claimed the life of a mother and grandmother, Tina Vital, and left 12 others injured, among them three youngsters. Ten of the injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, including the young driver.
Following medical care, the teenage suspect was booked into Yolo County Juvenile Hall. Police have indicated that he could face charges such as evading with injuries and vehicular manslaughter with negligence. The vehicle involved was a family car, and this incident was reportedly not the first time the teen had taken it without permission.
The California Highway Patrol is actively investigating the accident. Local attorney Mark Riechel explained that children under 14 cannot be charged as adults and that the boy will likely face a judge or commissioner in court.
Officer Danzl mentioned in an interview with a local news outlet that young people often do not fully comprehend the consequences of their actions. Quita White, a friend of the victim, echoed this sentiment, stating that young individuals may not realize how easily they can cause a life to be lost and a family to be shattered.