13-year-old accused of driving stolen car drunk before crash in north Arizona

FLAGSTAFF — Two juveniles narrowly escaped death after crashing a stolen vehicle during a joyride in northern Arizona on Tuesday morning, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The crash occurred around 1 a.m. on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40.

State troopers responded after receiving reports of a wrong-way driver in the area. A DPS deputy spotted the vehicle crossing the median in the wrong direction before correcting course and speeding eastbound at over 100 mph.

The vehicle had been reported stolen and had fled from Flagstaff Police earlier that day.

Eventually, the car struck a guardrail, rolled several times and crashed into a tree.

While the vehicle was rolling, the steering wheel broke off and flew around 50 feet from where the vehicle landed, DPS said.

13-year-old driver’s BAC over twice the legal limit, DPS says

Authorities identified the driver of the vehicle as a 13-year-old who showed six out of six signs of intoxication, DPS said.

A medical evaluation later found the teen driver had a blood alcohol level of 0.183. This is over two times the driving limit of 0.08.

The passenger was an 11-year-old. Both minors had non-life-threatening-injuries.

“We’re thankful the kids are okay, but this could’ve ended way worse,” DPS said in an announcement. “Juvenile joyriding and underage drinking are extremely dangerous.”

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