Juvenile Crashes Stolen Vehicle During Police Pursuit

SMITHFIELD – A 17-year-old juvenile is facing a series of charges following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle that ended in a crash on Sunday afternoon in Smithfield.

According to the Smithfield Police Department, the incident began at approximately 12:54 p.m. when an officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a 2019 Subaru Forester reported stolen out of Cary. The vehicle was traveling along East Market Street at the time of the attempted stop.

The driver failed to comply and fled at a high rate of speed. After traveling approximately one mile, the suspect attempted to enter Interstate 95 southbound. While making the turn onto the entrance ramp, the driver lost control of the vehicle due to excessive speed, causing the car to overturn on the shoulder of the ramp.

The juvenile was taken into custody at the scene. He sustained minor injuries and was transported to Johnston Health in Smithfield for medical evaluation. Following treatment, he was transferred to a juvenile detention facility.

The stolen Subaru was totaled as a result of the crash. The teen is expected to face charges through the juvenile court system. No other vehicles were involved in the incident, and no additional injuries were reported.