Juneau teen arrested after chase, crash

JUNEAU (AP) -- A 16-year-old boy stole two vehicles, led police on a high-speed chase and crashed into a concrete wall, injuring himself and a friend Sunday, police said.

The boy was arrested and police said charges also could be filed against a 14-year-old passenger. The boys' names were not released.

Both teenagers were injured in the accident and taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital. They were released in good condition by Sunday afternoon.

The driver faces several felony charges including two counts of vehicle theft, failure to stop for an officer and assault. He also was charged with driving without a valid license, a misdemeanor. Capt. Tom Porter said further charges, including failing to render aid following an accident and leaving the scene of an accident, could be filed.

Police received a call around 1:12 a.m. Sunday of a suspicious Chevrolet pickup truck. When a resident went to talk to the people in the truck, the driver sped away, police said.

Police caught up with the truck near a busy Mendenhall Valley intersection. Police said the driver shut off the vehicle's lights, drove through a trailer park and sped off. Porter said officers gave up chasing the vehicle when speeds reached a high rate.

Police found the teens at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center a short time later after the truck struck a concrete wall in the center's parking lot. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was caught by police. The 14-year-old passenger remained in the vehicle.

Both boys were taken to the hospital where the driver was treated for a minor cut and bruises and the passenger was treated for a broken arm, said Marijo Toner, a hospital spokeswoman.

The vehicle sustained about $4,000 in damage and the wall sustained $15,000 to $20,000 in damage, Porter said.

Police said the truck was stolen from a home in the Mendenhall Valley. Police believe the boy stole another vehicle in Douglas earlier in the night and abandoned it after it had mechanical difficulties. It was later recovered.

The driver was taken to the Johnson Youth Center and held without bail.