A 17-year-old girl in Texarkana, Texas, is facing multiple charges after he allegedly led the police on a chase while driving a stolen vehicle. The pursuit would be cut short as the driver crashed into a pole, setting the vehicle on fire.
According to a post made by the Texarkana Texas Police Department (TTPD), the incident occurred on Wednesday, June 3. During the afternoon, TTPD officers observed a familiar vehicle near W. 8th Street and Whitaker.
As per the police, the vehicle had been reported stolen from Texarkana, Arkansas. This twin city is just minutes away from its Texas counterpart.
Therefore, a traffic stop was attempted in the 600 block of South Lake Drive. The driver initially pulled over, but things got out of control shortly after.
Pursuit Begins and Ends
The driver allegedly sped away shortly after pulling over during the traffic stop. Officers, then, decided to chase down the vehicle.
Eventually, the driver turned onto Buchanan Road from South Lake Drive. While speeding, the driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a utility pole.
Due to the force of impact, the vehicle immediately caught fire. The driver and a passenger, however, managed to exit the car with only minor injuries.
Suspect Arrested, Other Findings
The driver was identified as 17-year-old London Richardson. The passenger, meanwhile, remains unnamed, but was identified as a 15-year-old.
Richardson was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance. Meanwhile, TTPD officers allegedly found marijuana inside the car.
After she was released, Richardson was transported to the Bi-State Jail. She was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading arrest with a vehicle, and possession of marijuana. The passenger was not arrested.
Additionally, the 17-year-old had an outstanding felony warrant for a theft of a firearm charge. If convicted of her evading arrest charge, Richardson could spend up to 10 years in prison. Texas considers 17-year-olds adults for criminal prosecution, so her case will not be handled in the juvenile justice system.
Citizens React
Multiple users, some of them Texarkana residents, reacted to the incident in the comments section. Some treated this as a wake-up call for both teenagers involved, asking their parents to take matters into their own hands.
Others, however, questioned why the 15-year-old wasn’t arrested. One argued that riding as a passenger in a stolen car can lead to criminal charges.
The TTPD, however, clarified that this isn’t automatic. Furthermore, it added that there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the 15-year-old.