Two boys arrested after stolen car crashes

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

Two teenage boys were arrested Monday morning after they crashed a stolen car into an unmarked Nevada Highway Patrol vehicle in Henderson, Trooper Angie Wolff said.

Shortly before 8 a.m., a trooper saw a car with Texas plates going about 40 mph on U.S. 95 at College Drive and became suspicious, Wolff said. The trooper ran a check on the plates and discovered the car had been reported stolen in Henderson.

The car left the highway at Horizon Drive and didn't stop when the trooper tried to pull it over, so a short pursuit ensued, Wolff said. During the chase the speeds reached about 60 mph, Wolff said.

The 16-year-old driver drove into a construction site and blew out two tires, then slid into an intersection near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Horizon Drive, hitting a Highway Patrol sergeant's unmarked car. The sergeant was on his way to help the trooper with the pursuit, Wolff said.

No one was hurt in the collision.

The trooper blocked the car so the teen couldn't drive away. The driver and his 15-year-old passenger jumped out the passenger side of the car and tried to run away, but they were quickly tackled by the officers and arrested, Wolff said.

Troopers found a BB gun in the car that looked like a semiautomatic handgun, and the driver had an unloaded 9mm gun strapped to his body, Wolff said.

The car had been reported stolen by the 15-year-old's grandmother, who is visiting from Texas, Wolff said.

The two boys face stolen car and firearms charges, Wolff said.