Another Entry in our Teen Driver + Speed + Stupidity File

The hits just keep a'comin':

YORBA LINDA Eight people, many of them teenagers, were injured, two critically, when a 2000 Toyota Sienna sped away from officers called to a party and rolled over in a Yorba Linda field, according to Brea Police Sgt. Bill Smyser.
Brea Police had responded to a report of loud music in the 20000 block of Via Natalie. Eight people were in the minivan driving away from the scene, when the 16-year-old driver stopped as he approached Officer Eric Oden, and instead clipped the officer with the driver-side mirror and took off, Smyser said.

The van, reaching speeds up to 80 mph, was pursued by the Brea officers. It headed south on Fairmont at La Palma, but as it reached the t-intersection it was traveling too fast to make the turn. The van hit the south curb and was launched down a 10 to 15-foot slope, rolling over onto a field at Yorba Regional Park, Smyser said. All the injured passengers were able to get out of the car on their own power, he said, but the two critically injured were only able to crawl five or 10 feet away. "All of them are very lucky to be alive," Smyser said.

Anaheim Fire responded to the crash and took the injured to the hospital. Their conditions are not known at this time.

The driver and an 18-year-old passenger ran off after the crash but were found hiding in a carport of a nearby Anaheim apartment complex. The driver suffered head and hand injuries, and the passenger had head, neck and arm injuries.

The driver has been arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, according to Brea Lt. Jerry Brakebill.

Let's count the things that make this a problem:

1. A 16-year old driver is not allowed to have other teenagers in his car without an adult over 25 joining them.


2. Teen drivers are not allowed to drive between 11pm and 5am for the first year.


3. Clipping a cop with your car while trying in to escape is considered "assault on a peace officer", a very serious felony.


4. Evading the police is a serious offense, even if you don't hit the cop.


5. Speeding in a loaded minivan is just plain dumb. The high center of gravity almost assures you of a rollover in a high speed turn.


6. Where were his parents?

What do you bet he ran because he was afraid to get a ticket?