A 13-year-old male driving a stolen vehicle Sunday led officers from three law enforcement agencies on a chase that left a trail of destruction including a damaged fire hydrant, a traffic sign and a parked vehicle before crashing into a house on Arthur Road.
Four people were taken into custody, and at least three guns were recovered.
Initial reports were that a 13-year-old male was driving a stolen GMC Durango out of Modesto.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies spotted the back SUV traveling near Buena Vista Drive and Freedom Boulevard around 2pm with several people on board.
When deputies tried to pull the SUV over, the driver sped off on southbound Freedom Boulevard. As he attempted a right turn onto Alt Vista Drive he careened over a curb and sidewalk, through a stand of shrubbery, across the parking lot and through another wall of bushes, leaving a trail of car parts, dirt and branches.
The SUV then continued to speed down Alta Vista and, while attempting a left turn on Arthur Road, after running a stop sign, the SUV sheared a fire hydrant and a traffic sign from these bases, plowed into a parked Jeep Patriot, and then smashed into the garage and living room of a home on the 300 block of Arthur Road.
That’s when two young women and two males jumped from the vehicle and took off on foot south on Arthur Road before darting down Hammer Drive toward Starlight School. A short while later, Watsonville Police, aided by Sheriff’s deputies using a drone, managed to take the four into custody. The two women reportedly had minor injuries.
Meanwhile, at the crash site deputies recovered a shotgun and two handguns.
“That was the most horrible sound I’ve ever heard,” said Richard Perretta who was home when the SUV smashed into his house. “It was terrifying. I’m just glad no one was hurt.”
Perretta’s wife, Angie, said she was sitting in the living room just feet from where the GMC crushed its way into the room.
“I just heard this loud crash and here comes this car into our home,” she said. “It was really loud.”
Watsonville Police Sgt. Monique Rangell said Watsonville Police and the California Highway Patrol were working the case with the Sheriff’s Office. A huge swarm of neighbors flocked to the scene for a look of the drama unfolding.
This story will be updated.
