Teen, 15, Fights For Life After Friend Crashes Stolen Kia: Police

JOLIET, IL — A 15-year-old passenger in a stolen Joliet Kia Soul was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago while his friend is now lodged at the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center after Joliet police say the pair crashed the stolen car on Ingalls Avenue, colliding with a John Deere construction tractor parked on the street.

The 15-year-old driver, who was not seriously hurt, is now charged with motor vehicle theft.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the following events happened around 4:25 a.m. on Friday:

At 4:23 a.m., officers responded to the area of Ingalls Avenue and Krings Lane for a single vehicle accident with injuries.

One 15-year-old boy was driving a stolen Kia Soul westbound on Ingalls Avenue, at which time the vehicle lost control and struck the rear of an unoccupied John Deere construction tractor that was parked on the south side of the street.

Officers located a 15- year-old driver and a 15-year-old passenger.

Officers determined that the vehicle had been stolen from the 1000 block of Clara Avenue. The 15-year-old driver was placed into custody without incident. Both juveniles were taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department for injuries in the wreck.

The 15-year-old passenger was transferred by ambulance to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, where he remains in critical condition.

The driver was released from the hospital, and he was taken to the Joliet Police Department, where he was processed and then transferred to the River Valley Justice Center. The driver was also cited for no valid driver's license and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

"No further information will be released as this crash remains under investigation by the Joliet Police Traffic Unit," English announced.

Also read: Family Of Man Killed By Kia Stolen By Teens Want Accountability: Cops