Two men were killed when a 13-year-old girl allegedly took her mother’s car and tried to escape Escondido police, authorities said Saturday.
The crash was reported about 11:20 p.m. Friday at Mission Avenue and Ash Street, in Escondido, San Diego, California, according to Escondido police Lt. Kevin Toth. A police officer had stopped the vehicle near Mission Avenue and Gamble Street for a traffic violation.
“What the officer didn’t know at the time, is that the car was being driven by a 13 year-old girl from Vista who took her mother’s car without her knowing. The girl’s juvenile friend was a passenger in the car,” Toth said.
The girls escaped in the car as the officer approached, he said. They drove east on Mission and apparently attempted to turn left onto Ash.
“They apparently lost control and their car slid into the planter on the east side of the road near a SDG&E transfer facility,” Toth said.
Once officers caught up to the girls and arrested them, they discovered the car had struck two men who appeared to have been homeless and were sleeping in the bushes, he said. One was declared dead at the scene and the other died at a hospital.
Efforts were underway to identify the two individuals. The girls were arrested and later released to their parents, police said.
After the crash, an officer’s vehicle was hit by a DUI driver while it blocked the roadway.
“The police car had all of the emergency lights activated and was unoccupied,” Toth said. “No one was injured and the driver was arrested for DUI.”
Anyone with details about the crash was asked to contact Officer Adan Martinez at 760-839-4465 or via the tip line 760-743-8477.
4 comments
Why are these two 13 year olds not in juvenile hall, after killing two men? Are you kidding me?
We are in dark sad times in America. The loss of life on a normal day in the past past is past is tremendeously heart breaking however the injury and loss of life occuring in the last year up today is becoming atroshes and to myself overwhelmingly and almost unbelievable. I pray for the life’s lost last night and the forever pain and suffering for the two suspects who caused those lost of life. To me it seems that the world is unraveling at every point. Americans have the capability to come together with Gods help and bring America back to a solid foundation that we grew up with. I pray that we slow down, pray and ask God for guidance while we support all of our police departments and stand for our Lady America and the constitution which covers the laws of our land and all those who have already died and suffered for the USA being there for each other to walk thru this crisis until we achieve victory. Amen God bless America and may God be with us all
The 13 year old who stole her mother’s car and was the one behind the wheel should be tried as an adult. Driving a car is an adult privilege. If she wants to act like an adult let her face the punishments an adult would for theft, evasion, and vehicular manslaughter. The other little girl should be tried as a minor for being an accomplice. Neither 13 year old should have been released to their parents, they belong in custody.
My grandson is 13 years old and he is showing signs of inappropriate behavior and if family doesn’t get involved your child might as well be out there along. Now what those two teenager did was wrong and I know they are probably very sorry for what they did, but they not only took one life they took 2 and that cannot be permitted. May God have mercy on them because if the law doesn’t. God will. The parents I know what you must be feeling. That’s my child but wrong will never prevail my God be with everyone in this situation.