Holly MatkinKearney, NE – A 13-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy armed with a gun led police on a wild high-speed pursuit down Interstate 80 in January.
The incident began at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Jan. 16, when a Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) trooper noticed a Nissan Pathfinder traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 at just 35 miles per hour, the NSP said in a press release the following day.
When the trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over at mile marker 276 near Kearney, the driver stomped on the accelerator and took off down the interstate “at a high rate of speed,” triggering a pursuit, according to the NSP.
The fleeing vehicle topped speeds of 100 miles per hour before another trooper was able to slow it down using stop sticks at mile marker 288.
The driver still refused to pull over and exited the interstate at the Shelton interchange, then continued northbound at a slower speed, according to the NSP.
A trooper ultimately performed a tactical vehicle intervention to stop the fleeing suspects, bringing the 16-minute chase to an end.
When they swooped in to apprehend the vehicle’s occupants, they discovered a 13-year-old girl behind the wheel.
An 11-year-old boy was in the passenger seat.
The NSP said both juveniles are from Colorado.
They were taken into custody without further incident.
Police then searched the vehicle and allegedly located a gun, a small quantity of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
The 11-year-old male suspect was cited for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia, NBC News reported.
The 13-year-old female suspect was cited for willful reckless driving, carrying a concealed weapon, flight to avoid arrest, numerous traffic violations, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police did not release the suspects’ names and it is unclear how long they had been gone from Colorado before turning up in central Nebraska.
No other details were immediately released.
Sandy Malone
