3 teens killed, 3 others hospitalized after chase by Harris County authorities – Houston Public Media

Three teenagers were killed and three others were hospitalized after a brief chase by Harris County authorities in a suspected stolen car.

The crash happened around 12:16 a.m. Thursday on Rolling Terrace Drive, north of Houston. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), a deputy attempted to stop a suspected stolen vehicle. Officers said the vehicle failed to stop and began accelerating at a high rate of speed before crashing into a tree.

HCSO East Patrol Maj. John Nenney said during a news conference that the pursuit lasted less than a minute and reached speeds of more than 90 miles per hour.

“The chase lasted about 40 to 45 seconds,” he said. “The driver of the fleeing vehicle failed to make a U-turn in the area and crashed into a tree… It appears that the vehicle was occupied by juveniles between the ages of 14 and 15. Three of them were pronounced dead at the scene. Three of them were taken to local hospitals.”

Officers identified all the passengers as male and said the driver was among the dead. Deputies at the scene tried to provide first aid to two residents, but were unable to resuscitate them.

“Seat belts weren’t on,” Nanny said. “The third row was not active. It was put down, but it seems a few passengers were still sitting there in the back, but not in the seats.’

Because the death occurred during a police chase, Nanny said the incident will be treated as an in-custody death.

“We have a harassment review panel and they will review all the videos to make sure all the rules were followed during the harassment,” he said. “Our internal affairs unit is also on site and will be investigating any police misconduct if any are found.”

The nanny said masks and tools were found inside the car, but it’s unclear what the juveniles planned to do before the chase began.

“They did have some screwdrivers and hammers,” he said. “We have investigators at the hospital who will be interviewing the survivors and they will be following up in that capacity.”

The occupants have not yet been identified, and the three juvenile survivors are in stable condition, according to the sheriff’s office.