Pursuit Ends As Underage Driver Crashes Into North Hollywood Apartment Building
NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) — A 13-year-old boy has been reunited with his family after police say he led them on a wild chase that ended with a crash into a North Hollywood apartment building Saturday.
Police began pursuit of a possible stolen vehicle on Coldwater Canyon and Victory Boulevard around 3 p.m.
The chase continued from Studio City into North Hollywood, with the driver slamming into a car near Saticoy Street and Vineland Avenue. It came to and end at Sherman Way and Toost Avenue, where the driver surrendered to authorities.
A LAPD spokesperson tells CBS2/KCAL9 the driver was a 13-year-old boy with autism whose parents reported him missing from South L.A. Saturday morning.
He was taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.
The family was reportedly reunited at 8 p.m.
No injuries were reported.
Marta Perez says her son was inside their home in the apartment building struck by the pursuit vehicle. She's thankful he's OK.
"When I went home, [I was] so scared something happened my son," she said.
News the driver was a young boy with special needs shocked and softened the reaction from other victims and witnesses.
"It was sad, you know — a young age like that just being taken away. I hope everything's all right with him, you know," said Iyanna Gaskin.
"Thank God nobody got hurt. It's cars. It can get fixed," witness Luis Perez said.
Detectives are looking into how the teen gained possession of the vehicle.
They had not yet reached a decision as to what, if any, charges would be filed at the time of this report.