ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle ended early Monday morning with a crash into a building and the arrest of a masked 16-year-old, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Around 12:03 a.m., the FHP issued a BOLO alert for a blue Hyundai sedan with Florida plates that fled from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was spotted traveling west on Interstate 4 near mile marker 96.
According to an incident report, at the time of the BOLO, the vehicle was being followed by Lake Mary Police Department units that did not request assistance.
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A trooper stationed near mile marker 90 observed the vehicle pass with several law enforcement vehicles trailing it without emergency lights activated around 12:10 a.m. The trooper joined the pursuit and confirmed the vehicle’s license plate matched the alert.
According to the report, a trooper activated emergency lights and sirens at 12:15 a.m. and attempted to slow the vehicle, which was clocked at 70 mph in a 60 mph zone. The driver began evasive maneuvers “rapidly changing lanes and nearly collided with the inside concrete wall.”
Troopers said they executed a PIT maneuver, but the driver was able to regain control and started to drive east in the westbound lanes of I-4 near mile marker 82 before making a U-turn across all lanes and continuing west in the westbound lanes at speeds nearing 100 mph in a 60 mph zone.
According to the report, the vehicle exited at mile marker 81 and turned onto West Michigan Street. As it approached Woods Street, troopers performed another PIT maneuver, causing the vehicle to crash into the front of a building at 1028 W. Michigan St.
The masked driver ran away from the crash before turning between two buildings. Troopers said they then attempted to shock the suspect with a Taser, but the probes did not make contact. However, troopers were still able to arrest the suspect as he tried to scale a fence.
The teen, who News 6 is not identifying because of his age, was taken back to the crash site, where his ski mask was removed.
Troopers said the boy faces charges of grand theft of motor vehicle, public order crimes – wearing hood or mask on street, and fleeing/eluding high speed/disregard for safety of person/property.
Also on Monday morning, 11 vehicles were involved in three unrelated separate wrecks in Volusia County.
[VIDEO: 11 vehicles involved in 3 crashes on I-4 in Volusia County]