A harrowing police chase involving a group of teenagers behind the wheel of a black Mustang ended in a violent crash in Dallas, leaving several people injured, authorities confirmed. The high-speed pursuit started in Haltom City early Sunday, when police officers tried to stop the car for weaving in and out of lanes on Denton Highway. According to FOX4 News, the driver, a 15-year-old, led the police on a chase that reached speeds of over 100 mph before running a red light and crashing into an SUV, injuring two adult women.
The collision, which took place just before 2 a.m., was captured on police dashcam footage showing the Mustang T-boning the SUV near Downtown Dallas. "They could’ve hit that pole, it could’ve been even more traumatic and damage but Grace," Kristal Sanders, one of the witnesses following in a white sedan, recalled in an interview obtained by FOX4 News. The injured women, one with a fractured spine, were friends of Sanders and Aquanisha Moore, who also witnessed the crash.
The Dallas Express reported that while the Dallas Police Department generally refrains from high-speed pursuits except for violent felonies, neighboring departments like Irving Police make situational calls on whether to give chase. This policy variation comes under scrutiny following the recent crash involving minors and a worrying trend of similar incidents. One such pursuit earlier in February ended tragically when a stolen vehicle crashed, killing all four occupants.
In the wake of the accident, there is a spotlight on Dallas District 2, represented by Council Member Jesse Moreno, where crime rates, notably assaults and drug offenses, are consistently higher compared to downtown Fort Worth. Despite a growing concern for public safety, DPD has been grappling with a staffing shortfall — operating with only 3,000 officers when a city report highlights the need for 4,000, to adequately tackle crime rates. The clamor for more resources and a better-equipped police force grows as the city allocated a $654 million budget for DPD this year, according to The Dallas Express, less than other cities facing similar high-crime challenges.
Following the crash, the underage driver of the Mustang faces charges of evading in a motor vehicle, with authorities considering additional charges of intoxication assault pending blood test results. All four teenagers in the Mustang were hospitalized, with the driver still in a Dallas hospital at the time of the reporting.
