CLEARWATER, Fla. — Deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested two teenagers early Friday morning for grand theft auto.
Deputies say the 15-year-old and 17-year-old were both on felony probation for grand theft auto. They were being monitored by a program aimed at reducing teen crime.
The 15-year-old was the only survivor of a fiery crash in 2017 that involved a stolen Ford Explorer. The stolen vehicle was driving over 100 mph when it crashed into another vehicle and went airborne. The three other teenagers inside, one 14-year-old and two 16-year-olds, were killed.
Investigators say the Explorer and another stolen car were racing down Tampa Road before the crash.
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The 15 and 17-year-old committed multiple vehicle burglaries and stole one vehicle in Clearwater, according to authorities.
Around 2 a.m. on Friday, deputies who were doing routine patrols for burglary prevention saw the teenagers. It was in the area of 298th Avenue North and 67th Street North in unincorporated Clearwater.
The teenagers then got into the stolen vehicle and left the area at a high rate of speed. Deputies tracked them down using K9 and flight units.
Now, the 15-year-old and 17-year-old both face charges for grand theft auto. Authorities say additional charges are pending. They were taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center without incident.
