Teen accused of crashing stolen car in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A teenager was arrested for stealing a red SUV and crashing it in a Santa Barbara parking lot Tuesday morning.

The Santa Barbara Police Department said officers spotted the red stolen car near Bath Street and West Carrillo Street around 11 a.m.

Officers tried to pull the stolen car over but said the 16-year-old driver took off, eventually crashing into a parked grey sedan in the CVS parking lot on Carrillo Street. Police said two people inside the parked car suffered minor injuries.

Officers detained the teenage driver along with two female passengers. Police said the 17 and 15-year-old passengers were released to their parents.

Police booked the driver on charges of stealing a vehicle, officer evasion, felony DUI, felony hit and run, resisting an officer, and driving without a license.

The two passengers from the stolen car will have their charges referred to the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Probation Department according to the SBPD.

This investigation remains ongoing and no further information is available on this incident.