3 Teens Hospitalized After Crash Involving Stolen SUV

CORAL GABLES, FL — Two teenage boys were thrown from an SUV while a third was listed in stable condition Monday after the stolen vehicle they were riding in crashed into a tree. Police were attempting to get the SUV to pull over when the crash occurred, snarling traffic in both directions of busy highway U.S. 1. The incident happened shortly after 6 a.m. at U.S. 1 and Orduna Court.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department said that the incdient began with a 9-1-1 call to a home in the area of SW 83 Court & SW 78 Street. The homeowner said he saw two people attempting to open vehicle doors through his security system.

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"As the officer arrived in the area, he observed a vehicle, matching the subject vehicle description, leaving the community," according to Zabaleta. "The subject vehicle proceeded to travel northbound on South Dixie Highway."

Zabaleta said that the officer followed the rust-colored Honda Element and alerted South Miami police of his location.

"Once the subject vehicle approached the intersection of Grenada Boulevard and South Dixie Highway, the officer activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the vehicle," Zabaleta explained. "The driver accelerated the vehicle at a high rate of speed and immediately lost control, causing it to strike a tree in the median, redirecting the vehicle onto the southbound lanes."

The 16-year-old driver and 15-year-old backseat passenger were both thrown from the car while the 16-year-old front passenger was injured but not thrown.

The two teens who were ejected from the vehicle were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition by Coral Gables Fire Rescue. The other teen was listed in stable condition.

Zabaleta said that police recovered a firearm at the scene.

"It is undetermined if anything was taken from the victim’s vehicle at this time," he added. "Later in the morning, reports of a stolen vehicle was received. An investigation confirmed to be the vehicle driven by the subject."

To report a tip, contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477; Visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano