Teen dies in crash of stolen car

12:53 AM CDT on Saturday, September 17, 2005

By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV

WFAA-TV

A teenage passenger in a stolen car was killed when it crashed.

A stolen car; a high rate of speed; a young driver; and three teenagers along for the ride.

It was a deadly combination that began with the theft of a silver Honda from a Plano car lot and ended with a deadly crash in West Dallas Friday afternoon.

The speeding car—which witnesses estimated was traveling at more than 80 mph—ran a red light and slammed into a red Dodge Durango at the intersection of West Davis Street and Fort Worth Ave.

The SUV skidded half the length of a football field before it crashed on its side.

"The two ladies in the Durango, they ended up in the hospital," said Dallas police Sgt. Albert Martinez, who added that their injuries were not life-threatening.

The Honda kept going after hitting the Durango and was headed directly for a convenience store when it was stopped by two cars in the parking lot.

The driver of the stolen car and two of his three teenage passengers escaped with minor injuries, but one young person died at the scene.

"A lot of people come to and from the store," Martinez said. "We're just very fortunate there were not pedestrians standing here at the corner."

The driver of the Honda was expected to be charged with car theft, and more charges could follow.

"We've had witnesses tell us they or the driver might have been doing some kind of drugs or alcohol, but right now we're in the preliminary stages of the investigation," Martinez said.

E-mail dronan@wfaa.com