Female driver, 13, and boy, 11, with drugs in their car lead Nebraska cops on 16-minute 100 mph chase
KEARNEY, NEBRASKA: On Monday, January 16, police in Nebraska went on a chaotic 100 mph chase after two teenagers, a 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, who had a gun and a large amount of drugs. Officers from the highway patrol attempted to pull over the teenagers who were driving a Nissan Pathfinder. The teens were travelling 35 mph on Interstate 80 near Kearney before they escaped a trooper "at a high rate of speed."
A statement by the Nebraska State Patrol read, "The vehicle reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour as it fled eastbound on I-80," as reported by CBS. The statement continued, "Another trooper was able to successfully deploy stop sticks at mile marker 288 to slow the vehicle. The suspect vehicle then exited I-80 at the Shelton interchange and began traveling northbound at slower speeds." The teen allegedly exited the Interstate 80 but kept going at a slower pace. The chase, which reportedly lasted 16 minutes, was eventually put to an end when the trooper's tactical move caused the Nissan Pathfinder to come to a stop.
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The 11-year-old boy and the teen driver, both from Colorado, were taken into custody "without further incident" and given protective custody, as reported by NBC News. Troopers inspected their Nissan Pathfinder and found a gun, some marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The teen driver faces charges for fleeing to escape arrest, willful reckless driving, carrying a concealed weapon, possessing drug paraphernalia, and several traffic violations. The 11-year-old passenger received charges for having a concealed firearm and drug paraphernalia possession.
The Interstate 80 freeway near Kearney was closed as of Wednesday morning, January 18, due to a winter storm that is now affecting Nebraska. According to the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, applicants for learner's permits must be at least 60 days away from turning 15 in order to be eligible, and those who have them are not permitted to drive without a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. Similar regulations apply in Colorado, where juveniles can get a permit at around 15 years old and must spend a year being escorted by a licensed driver who is at least 21 before they can get their own license.