March 19, 2024

Minnesota juvenile wrecks stolen vehicle

Girl sped off during State Patrol stop, rolled car south of Newton

A motorist assist from Iowa State Patrol on Friday in Newton led to a short chase and rollover crash involving two juveniles on Highway 14 near Interstate 80.

Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty said the state trooper pulled up behind a stopped vehicle with a Minnesota license plate about 10:30 a.m. and a Jasper County deputy pulled up to assist. There were two teenagers, a male and female, in the vehicle.

After the boy was asked to come back to the patrol car to answer questions, the girl climbed into the driver’s seat and sped away in the vehicle south on Highway 14. However, she made it less than one mile before veering to the left and rolling the vehicle in a ditch about half of a mile south of Interstate 80.

The vehicle caught on fire briefly during the accident, but the flames were easily extinguished. The Newton Fire Department was among the agencies that responded to the scene.

The girl, 16, was taken to Skiff Medical Center with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. She was conscious and alert after the crash. The boy, 17, was taken into police custody.

The pair is from Minnesota, Halferty said. The sheriff said the vehicle, which is heavily damaged, had been reported stolen. Both were charged with second-degree theft.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com