A 15-year-old driver is facing multiple charges after Florida Highway Patrol says he lost control of a Dodge Durango at a high rate of speed and crashed into a home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
According to FHP, the teen was traveling northbound on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Tuesday night when he lost control of the SUV near Hall Street. The vehicle left the roadway, struck multiple traffic control devices and utility fixtures, and ultimately crashed into a residence.
While the crash caused significant damage, authorities said the residents were home at the time and were not injured. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Photos from the scene show the Durango ended up on top of another vehicle that was parked at the home.
Durango Leaves Road and Crashes Into Home
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when the 15-year-old lost control of the Dodge Durango while traveling at a high rate of speed.
The SUV left the roadway and struck multiple traffic control devices and utility fixtures before crashing into a home. FHP said the residence was occupied at the time of the crash, but the people inside were not hurt.
The Durango also struck a parked vehicle on the property before coming to rest.
Teen Reportedly Facing Multiple Charges
According to local reporting by WTSP, the 15-year-old did not possess a valid driver’s license and is facing charges including reckless driving, driving without a valid driver’s license, operating an unregistered vehicle, and driving without insurance.
The Florida Highway Patrol’s social media post did not specify the charges, but WTSP reported the teen is expected to face multiple violations stemming from the crash.
Authorities said the driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Some Questions Remain Unanswered
Photos of the crash quickly generated questions online, particularly regarding how a 15-year-old came to be behind the wheel of a Dodge Durango.
One of the biggest questions being asked online is how the 15-year-old came to be driving the Dodge Durango. Neither the Florida Highway Patrol nor local reporting has shed light on that question, and authorities have not released additional information about the vehicle’s ownership or how the teen gained access to it.
It’s also worth noting that the driver is a juvenile. In cases involving minors, authorities often release limited information compared to investigations involving adults. As a result, some of the questions being asked online may not be answered until investigators release additional information.
For now, authorities have only said that the 15-year-old was driving at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed into the residence. The investigation remains ongoing.