13-Year-Old Accused of Being Drunk, Crashing Stolen Car

Arizona officials are investigating how a 13-year-old, allegedly drunk, ended up behind the wheel with an 11-year-old passenger in a late-night wreck, ABC News reports. The incident happened in the wee hours of Tuesday near Flagstaff, when the teenager allegedly took a Chevy Silverado from the Flagstaff Police Department and set off around 1am, Fox News reports. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the car sped down Interstate 40, crossed the median in the wrong direction, and reached over 100mph before the young driver lost control.

Officials say the car hit a guardrail, rolled several times, and smashed into a tree. The force of the crash was such that the steering wheel broke off and landed about 50 feet from the car's resting spot. Both children survived and were hospitalized with injuries described as not life-threatening. The 13-year-old's blood alcohol concentration reportedly measured 0.183—more than twice the legal limit for adults in Arizona, and well over the zero-tolerance level for minors. The DPS says the teenager will face DUI charges, 12 News reports. "We're thankful the kids are OK, but this could've ended way worse," the agency said in a statement. "Juvenile joyriding and underage drinking are extremely dangerous. Talk to your kids about the dangers of drinking and unlicensed driving."