Driver Killed In Explosive Crash Identified As 15-Year-Old

LONG BEACH, CA — Authorities Wednesday identified the driver of a stolen vehicle that crashed into a semi-truck and burst into flames as a 15-year-old boy.

The three other occupants who were hospitalized following the crash late Monday night included a 13-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl according to the California Highway Patrol.

"This tragic event highlights a nationwide trend in which juveniles are stealing vehicles and driving recklessly," Chief of Police Wally Hebeish said in a statement to Patch. "While the driver of the vehicle ultimately succumbed to his injuries, I must commend the officers for their heroic actions. I am extremely proud of their courage and willingness to run toward this dangerous situation in order to rescue the occupants. I believe their actions prevented the further loss of life and demonstrates their commitment to public safety."

A Long Beach resident called police to report that her car was stolen at about 10:10 p.m. in the 100
block of Jaymills Avenue. The resident told police that she found the vehicle and there were four juveniles inside.

As officers responded to the call, the vehicle left the area. With the help of an LBPD helicopter, officers tracked the vehicle's location overhead and no police vehicles followed them on the ground.

The pursuit concluded at about 10: 25 p.m. near the Anaheim Street exit when the Kia crashed into a semi-truck and burst into flames. All four of the juvenile occupants were taken to the hospital and the driver of the vehicle was later pronounced dead, the CHP told Patch.

The CHP said the driver attempted to exit the freeway during the pursuit and cut in front of the semi-truck, which led to the crash. The 22-year-old driver of the truck was not seriously injured, the CHP said, but no additional information about his condition was available.