14-Year-Old Driving Stolen Kia Nearly Dies In Crash: Police

MINNEAPOLIS — A 14-year-old boy is fighting for his life after crashing a Kia in Minneapolis that was reported stolen, according to police.

On Sunday at about 10:40 p.m., police officers and emergency medical crews responded to the report of a single-vehicle crash near 39th Avenue North and Upton Avenue North.

At the scene, police found the 14-year-old boy suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was the sole occupant of the Kia, and no other cars were involved, according to authorities.

The teen was then transported to North Memorial Medical Center.

Speed was contributing factor in the crash, police said.

TikTok Fuels Kia, Hyundai Thefts Across Twin Cities Metro

Teenage thieves in Minneapolis and across the nation are looking for Kias and Hyundais because of a security vulnerability in earlier, cheaper models widely exposed on TikTok.

"This is an absolute tragedy as a young life hangs in the balance," Minneapolis Chief Brian O’Hara said in a news release.

"The ease by which certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles can be stolen creates too great an opportunity for this crime. Not only does this endanger youth, but it also endangers everyone near them when they are behind the wheel.

O’Hara, who was sworn in as chief early last month, called for a "community response that includes immediate action by the public, the criminal justice system, and those who provide services for our youth."

O’Hara also called for "immediate action" by the auto manufacturing companies.

Police provided the following statistics on Kia and Hyundai thefts in a news release:

• All Auto Thefts are up in 2022 by 48 percent
  • 5,868 in 2022, compared to 3,966 in 2021.
• Kia and Hyundai thefts are up nearly 900 percent in 2022, with 2,166 this year compared to 218 in 2021.
  • 2020: 227 Kia and Hyundai vehicles stolen
  • 2021: 250 Kia and Hyundai vehicles stolen
  • 2022: 2166 Kia and Hyundai vehicles stolen
• In 2022 alone, at least 131 Kia or Hyundai vehicles were stolen more than once
  • 5 of those vehicles were stolen 3 times in 2022
• In 2022, a Kia or Hyundai vehicle was used in at least:
  • 5 Homicide cases
  • 11 Shootings
  • 12 Shots fired incidents
  • 34 Robberies
  • 5 Person with a Gun cases
  • 212 Hit and Run accidents

Police are asking the owners of Kias and Hyundais to invest in anti-theft devices and GPS tracking technologies.