2 Flanders Teens Steal Pickup, Lead Police On Chase: Cops

RIVERHEAD, NY — Two 17-year olds were arrested after they stole a pickup and crashed into a tree during a pursuit — and then, the driver attempted to flee, leaving the injured passenger in the vehicle, police said.

According to Riverhead Police, at approximately 2:26 a.m. Sunday, police received a report of a stolen vehicle from the Booker Drive area of Riverhead.

A 2002 Ford F-150 pickup had been taken from a residence without the owner's permission, police said.

A short time later, officers located the vehicle on Northville Turnpike near Kmart, police said.

While attempting to stop the vehicle, a brief pursuit ensued and the vehicle struck a tree on East Main Street near Fairway Ave., police said.

The driver exited the vehicle, fled on foot, and was taken into custody in the rear yard of a property on East Main Street, police said.

The Riverhead Fire Department responded to the scene of the crash to extricate the passenger from the vehicle, police said.

The Riverhead Police Department's detective division responded to assist in the investigation, police said.

The passenger, Gino Florian of Flanders, 17, was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps for a non-life threatening injury to his arm, police said.

There were no other injuries as a result of the crash, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, Eleeam Sanchez, 17, of Flanders, was arrested and charged with third degree grand larceny, third degree criminal possession of stolen property, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury, police said.

Gino Florian, 17, was charged with third degree grand larceny and third degree possession of stolen property, police said.

Florian was arraigned by Judge Allen Smith at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.

Sanchez was held for a morning arraignment in Riverhead Justice Court, police said.

Mug shots were not provided due to the age of the defendants, police said.

Patch file photo.