Teen Runs Stolen Car into Tree, Fire Erupts

A 16-year-old girl and two fellow passengers were arrested after crashing a stolen car into a tree in Sunnyvale Monday morning, a Sunnyvale Public Safety Department captain said.

Around 1 a.m. police attempted to stop a vehicle on El Camino Real near Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, but the vehicle then turned off all its lights and sped off and ran a red light at El Camino Real and Mathilda Avenue, Capt. Dave Verbrugge said.

The car continued driving erratically on northbound Mathilda Avenue, however police did not give chase.

Officers shortly thereafter responded to the vehicle, which had crashed into a tree and burst into flames on Indio Way, Verbrugge said.

At this point officers were informed the car was reported stolen out of San Jose, Verbrugge said.

At the crash scene, police apprehended a 16-year-old female driver who suffered minor injuries.

The San Jose resident was taken to a hospital and then booked at Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, Verbrugge said.

Three other passengers fled the scene. About an hour later one of the three was found and arrested.

Around 6 a.m. a second passenger who had been hiding nearby emerged and was taken into custody by police, Verbrugge said.

The two passengers were male and female teenagers also from San Jose. They were not injured in the crash.

The two minors were also booked at Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, Verbrugge said.

The fourth passenger eluded authorities.

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