A Wrong-Way Report Leads to a Violent Crash
A 13-year-old girl is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing a pickup truck and crashing it along Interstate 40 in northern Arizona early Tuesday morning, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Troopers say the crash happened around 1 a.m. near Flagstaff after receiving a report of a wrong-way driver heading eastbound. A deputy spotted a white Chevrolet Silverado crossing the median and swerving into oncoming lanes before the driver regained control and accelerated past 100 mph.
Truck Flips After Hitting a Guardrail
Moments later, the truck veered onto a guardrail, rolled multiple times, and struck a tree, according to DPS. The crash was severe enough that the steering wheel was torn from the column and thrown nearly 50 feet from the wreck. Both the 13-year-old driver and her 11-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
A Stolen Vehicle and Signs of Intoxication
Authorities said the truck had been reported stolen earlier from within the Flagstaff Police Department’s jurisdiction. Troopers at the scene noted signs of intoxication, and later testing reportedly showed a blood alcohol concentration well above Arizona’s zero-tolerance threshold for minors.
DPS Response
Photos released by DPS showed the truck crumpled against a line of trees, its roof crushed and front end badly damaged. In a public statement, DPS urged parents to talk with their children about the dangers of underage drinking and unlicensed driving, noting that the outcome could have been far more severe than it was.
Charges Expected
Officials confirmed the teen is expected to face charges related to impaired driving, reckless driving, and the theft of the vehicle. Given her age, the case is likely to proceed through the juvenile justice system rather than adult criminal court, and further details about the proceedings have not been made public.