Columbus police say a 14-year-old behind the wheel of a stolen car crashed into a vehicle carrying a mother and her four children in east Columbus last Thursday, after officers tried to pull the teen over and the car sped away.
In a social media update this week, the department shared photos from the scene that show heavy front-end damage to both vehicles on the 1700 block of E. Weber Road. Officers said the young driver was taken to a local hospital in stable condition and later charged.
What police say happened
According to a post by the Columbus Division of Police, officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle in the Weber Road area and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Instead of pulling over, the driver allegedly took off at a high rate of speed and then crashed into another car that was occupied by a mother and her four children in the 1700 block of E. Weber Road.
The department’s update identifies the driver as a 14-year-old juvenile. Police say the teen was transported to a local hospital in stable condition and has been charged with failure to comply with an order or signal and with receiving stolen property, auto.
Crash scene and immediate response
Photos released by the department show significant front-end damage to both vehicles and officers working the scene and documenting evidence. The post notes that the stolen vehicle was returned to its owner at the scene.
Police did not provide a detailed public update on the injuries of the mother or the four children who were in the second car. Since the driver is a minor, the department did not release a name or other identifying information.
Charges and what comes next
In its arrest update, the department listed two charges for the 14-year-old: failure to comply with an order or signal and receiving stolen property involving a motor vehicle.
Cases involving minors are generally handled through the Franklin County juvenile court system, which oversees delinquency matters for youths under 18 in Columbus and surrounding areas. For general information about how juvenile cases move through that system, the court provides public resources on the Franklin County Juvenile Court site.
How to help
Columbus police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Division of Police. The department included multiple photos in the Facebook post and noted that witness accounts could help clarify what happened before and after the crash.
Those who saw the collision or have tips can use the City of Columbus online reporting system or call the Division directly. The city’s reporting page offers guidance on how to submit a tip or file a report related to traffic incidents and other police matters.
