13-year-old stole vehicle, led investigators on high-speed chase that ended in Raleigh: Deputies
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The driver who led law enforcement on a high-speed chase across multiple counties was 13 years old.
Bladen County Sheriff's Office confirmed the driver's age Wednesday afternoon, hours after the driver crashed in Raleigh.
Investigators said the chase began Wednesday morning after investigators received a call from a person saying a man wearing a ski mask had just stolen their vehicle.
Deputies soon spotted the stolen vehicle near NC-53 and NC-242 outside of Elizabethtown.
The deputies turned on their lights and sirens and tried to pull the vehicle over, but instead the driver sped up and led deputies on a lengthy high-speed chase.
The chase went from Bladen County into Cumberland County and Interstate 95, then onto Interstate 40 into Johnston County and later Wake County. Bladen County Sheriff's Office said the driver at times was traveling over 100 miles per hour.
The driver eventually exited onto Rock Quarry Road and went west on Poole Road toward downtown Raleigh. At around 12:15 p.m., the driver crashed near the intersection of Poole Road and New Bern Avenue.
That's when investigators learned the driver was 13 years old. He told them he was not injured, but because of his age he was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Investigators said after the teen is treated he will be placed in secure custody at a juvenile facility managed by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
