Two teens arrested after chase through Downtown Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two teenagers are in police custody after allegedly leading police on a chase through downtown Columbus in a stolen car Wednesday night.
Columbus police said officers located a reportedly stolen Kia Forte in the Hilltop neighborhood at approximately 8:37 p.m. near South Terrace Avenue and West Broad Street. The Kia was being followed closely by a Ford Focus with out-of-state tags.
Both vehicles continued driving when officers attempted a traffic stop and sped east on West Broad Street. While police did not follow the vehicles on the roads, the city's helicopter was following the cars.
At one point, officers tried using stop sticks to stop the vehicles as they sped down West Broad Street near Starling Street, but the move didn't stop either car. The suspect vehicles then continued driving through Downtown, German Village, and the south and near east sides of the city for about 15 minutes, police said.
The helicopter, which continued following the suspects, tracked them to Buckeye Middle School on Parsons Avenue driving through a field. Police said the Kia stayed in the field while the Ford drove back onto Parsons Avenue and fled the scene.
When officers arrived at the school, they found the Kia and a second stolen vehicle, both empty.
The helicopter continued following the Ford, which police said drove recklessly for the next 26 minutes, running red lights and crossing the center line into oncoming traffic.
According to police, at approximately 9:18 p.m., the Ford was involved in a crash near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and Reinhard Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they took two 17-year-old boys into custody, with the driver being taken to a local hospital in a stable condition.
Police are investigating if the Ford Focus was also reported stolen.
The driver will be charged with felony fleeing, with other charges possible, police said, and the incident remains under investigation.