SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Police are searching for a suspect after a stolen vehicle crashed, caught on fire, and injured one juvenile occupant, according to the Southington Police Department.
At 3:13 a.m. officers from the Southington Police Department were alerted by Flock Cameras, which are license plate readers, about a stolen vehicle traveling north on Old Turnpike Rd. from Cheshire.
Police say two minutes later, a second Flock Camera alerted them of the same stolen vehicle, except now it was heading to Main St. near Meriden Ave.; more than two miles from the first Flock camera alert.
An officer saw the vehicle traveling in the area of North Main and Mill St. but was unable to stop it due to its high rate of speed.
Then at 3:19 a.m., the vehicle was spotted traveling south on Main St. near Bristol St. when an officer attempted to intervene but lost sight of it. While searching the area, responding officers said they saw a “flash in the sky.” That flash turned out to be a spark from transformers connected to a utility pole.
According to police, the stolen vehicle hit a utility pole before coming to a rest on its side in front of the Hop Haus Southington restaurant located at 28 West Main St. Officials said the vehicle then caught on fire.
The hit utility pole was severed, which caused three transformers to fall to the ground. The restaurant did not suffer any structural damage.
While officers were containing the scene, they were approached by a juvenile with serious injuries. Police said the juvenile admitted to being in the stolen car when it crashed, and that another male juvenile was also involved. Witnesses in the area also reported seeing an occupant fleeing the crash on foot.
The injured juvenile was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is currently listed in stable condition. The second juvenile is being sought after for questioning.
The Plantsville Center of Southington is temporarily closed while the accident continues to be investigated. The area of West Main St. will also be closed between South Main St. and Summer St. as Eversource works to repair the broken utility pole and damaged transformers.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact Officer Schlitten of the Southington Police Department at 860-378-1600 ext. 2453 or SSchlitten@southingtonpolice.org.
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