Updated as of 3:50 p.m. on Friday, April 28.
In the early morning hours Friday, Jackson County Office of the Sheriff's deputies observed a Jeep Wrangler speeding down Page Avenue in Blackman Township.
When officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle continued speeding northbound down Roberts Street.
The jeep crashed and rolled over multiple times near the intersection of Roberts Street and east Ganson Street, landing on all four tires. According to authorities, the severely damaged vehicle continued driving east on Michigan Avenue, where it crashed a second time at the intersection of East Michigan Avenue and Dettman Road.
The police officer identified three occupants in the vehicle, all sustaining injuries. Medical assistance was called by police. The driver was identified as a 15-year-old male.
Additionally, a 911 call had been received from the 2500 block of East Ganson Street reporting that two occupants of the jeep had been ejected from the vehicle during the first crash. The two occupants were located and medical assistants was called. All five occupants in the jeep involved in the crash were 15-17 years old.
All occupants of the jeep were transported to the Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital for medical treatment. A 15-year-old male suffered fatal injuries as the result of being ejected from the vehicle. A second 15-year-old was transported by helicopter to Mott's Hospital in Ann Arbor and is currently listed as in critical condition.
All remaining occupants were treated at Jackson Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital. The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and remains in the hospital under observation. One vehicle occupant has been released from the hospital and another remains in serious condition with a broken neck.
After an investigation into the accident, police reveled that the vehicle belonged to a family member of the 15-year-old driver and it was taken without permission.
Police stated that the driver and the four occupants of the vehicle had been driving around Jackson County shooting at vehicles with a toy orbeez gun. The driver of the jeep saw a sheriff patrol car and made a northbound turn on to Roberts Avenue and began extensively speeding.
The following is a statement from the Jackson County Sheriff's Officer in regards to the police chase that pursued.
Because of the speed of the suspect vehicle, Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. When it became obvious that the vehicle was accelerating at a high rate of speed, Deputies activated their overhead lights and siren and continued attempting to catch up with the suspect vehicle. Seconds later, the suspect vehicle rolled over near the intersection of Roberts and E. Ganson Street. Two 15 year old males were ejected from the Jeep, thrown in two different directions, landing several feet off the roadway. Because the deputies were a distance away when the crash occurred, they did not see the subjects being thrown from the vehicle. However, they were able to see that a crash had occurred and notified dispatch to send rescue and ambulance.
Moments later, the suspect vehicle, though badly damaged, had landed back on all four tires and continued fleeing in an east bound direction on E Ganson Street. Deputies continued pursuing the vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued on to E Michigan Avenue passing Dettman Road where the driver lost control and was involved in another accident. The driver and occupants were then taken into custody.
After searching the vehicle following the crash, police found an orbeez gun and a fifth of alcohol. The investigation is continuing to determine how and where the teens purchased the alcohol.
Video footage of the accident has been released by the Jackson County Sheriff.
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