Teen boy charged in crash that killed girl, 15, and injured 2 other teens on Southwest Side

A 16-year-old motorist is facing reckless homicide charges after he plowed into a tree, killing his 15-year-old passenger and injuring two other teen girls last month on the Southwest Side.

The boy, who is not being identified because of his age, was arrested Thursday and charged with reckless homicide with a motor vehicle in the death of Dreanna Jackson, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner's office said.

Officers saw the boy driving a stolen Toyota Corolla at a high rate of speed without headlights on March 9. The boy then lost control of the car and hit a tree in the 6800 block of South California Avenue, police said.

Jackson, who was a passenger in the vehicle was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:32 a.m., the medical examiner's office said. An autopsy the next day determined she died of multiple injuries from the crash.

Another 15-year-old girl who was also inside the vehicle suffered a broken arm and a 16-year-old girl suffered an injury to her head. Both were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, police said. The older girl was in serious condition.

Police said the Toyota was reported stolen.