Bystander killed after teen in stolen vehicle crashes into home
May 25, 2023, 10:21 PM | Updated: Jun 27, 2024, 9:49 pm
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A bystander was killed after a teen driver of a stolen car crashed into several houses.
The 24-year-old man killed in the crash was identified by police as Adrian Hernandez-Rodriguez.
According to West Valley City Police Department, at approximately 7:05 p.m., an officer spotted a stolen vehicle at 3100 S Redwood Road.
The officer, who was in an unmarked police car, began to follow the stolen car to see where it went. Officers chose to not pursue the car or begin a chase, police said.
The car turned onto 3100 heading west, entering a neighborhood, when it stopped near Lehi Drive, east of Beaver Street, police said. At this point, three people got out of the car, and police approached the vehicle.
Officers kept their distance until the driver of the vehicle stopped, and the driver and two passengers got out in the area of Lehi and Beaver Streets. At that time Police converged on the vehicle. The two passengers ran and were taken into custody by police. 2/
— WVC Police (@WVCPD) May 26, 2023
Then, the driver got back in while the passengers fled on foot.
An officer in the neighborhood threw down spike strips as the suspect attempted to drive off.
Officers let the driver go and as they fled, they hit the spike strips.
The driver still did not stop and continued to speed away until a few hundred yards away when the driver lost control of the car.
The driver then hit a patrol car and launched through two yards, crashing into through a chain-link fence and then into a house where the driver hit and killed a 24-year-old bystander who was on the porch.
The car continued, crashing through the front of another home and then into the next yard where it hit two other cars before coming to a stop.
The driver got out of the car and laid on the ground.
Police took the underage 15-year-old driver into custody. He was treated for minor injuries.
During the crash, the driver also hit a gas line, causing an evacuation in the area.
The suspect vehicle also sheared off the home’s gas meter. A significant gas leak resulted and forced the evacuation of nearby homes in the area. Crews have been able to stop that leak, and neighbors have been allowed to return home. 7/
— WVC Police (@WVCPD) May 26, 2023
The passengers were a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as information becomes available.
