LIVE OAK — Multiple people were injured early Wednesday morning after crashing a stolen vehicle in Live Oak after a police chase.
California Highway Patrol officials at the scene said that the six victims – five of them juveniles – were taken to local and out-of-county hospitals with major injuries.
An air ambulance was called to take one of the victims.
The incident began at 2:59, when a California Highway Patrol officer stopped a 2001 GMC Yukon at 41st Avenue and Gross Road for an obstructed license plate.
During the stop, the 14-year-old unlicensed male driver fled, and the pursuit ended when the driver lost control of the GMC, overturned and collided with a tree, CHP Officer Julieta Trenado said.
The juveniles range from 14-16. One passenger is 18. All are from San Jose, and all but the driver are female.
One of the juveniles was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the GMC. He was transported to Natividad Medical Center.
Drugs or alcohol are not thought to be a factor in the crash.
Capitola Police, Central Fire Protection District and AMR responded to the incident. Portola Street was closed while emergency crews processed the scene.
*This story has been updated. The teens’ vehicle was not stolen, as was originally reported.
