16-Year Old Arrested for DUI Crash in Santa Ana

July 14th ─ a 16-year old boy who snuck out at night and took his mother’s car was arrested for suspicions of driving under the influence in a crash that left 5 teenage juveniles injured Thursday morning in Santa Ana. The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. in the 1600 block of Greenville Street when Santa Ana Police responded to a call regarding a single-car crash with 4 teenage juveniles inside. According to witnesses the vehicle, a Honda Accord, veered onto a sidewalk and plowed into 2 teenagers, after which the Honda Accord slammed into a traffic pole. The underage, unlicensed teenage driver was then arrested by Santa Ana Police on suspicions of being intoxicated after finding open containers inside the Honda Accord. The 2 teenage pedestrians were injured, as were 3 occupants of the vehicle. All 5 people involved in the accident, including the teenage driver, were taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals. 1 person is reported to have sustained a fractured leg, while 2 were taken to the Trauma Units of those local hospitals. According to Cpl. Bertagna, of the Santa Ana Police Department, 2 of the teenage juveniles involved are 15-years old and 2 others are 16-years old, and that none of the injuries sustained appear to be life- threatening. The teenage driver was initially arrested and released to receive medical treatment after which he was released to his parents’ custody after a juvenile detention facility refused to take him in, Bertagna said.

His family said the teenage driver took off the night before with his mother’s Honda Accord. “He just got the car, and he left. I wanted him to change a long time ago, I didn’t want him to take my steps. I tried to turn him around several times,” said Alex Resendiz, the teen’s uncle. The boy’s family has apologized to the victims’ families and said they feel disappointed and betrayed by him.

Police are not releasing the boy’s name because of his age but say he is facing charges of DUI, assault with a vehicle and driving without a license. Police plan to petition to have him charged as a juvenile Bertagna said.

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