MARINGOUIN, La. — An early morning police pursuit ended in a fiery crash that claimed the life of the 16-year-old male driver and injured a 13-year-old female passenger on Louisiana Highway 411 in southern Pointe Coupee Parish on Wednesday.
According to WWL Louisiana media partner WBRZ in Baton Rouge, the pursuit began on Interstate 10 around 2:30 a.m. with two teens traveling in a Chevrolet Suburban believed to be stolen from Jefferson Parish.
The vehicle was allegedly involved in multiple hit-and-run crashes.
During the chase, WBRZ said the vehicle was driven over spike strips placed by deputies from the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and then continued for approximately two miles before crashing into a tree north of Maringuoin just a few hundred yards across the Pointe Coupee Parish line – approximately 30 miles west of Baton Rouge – and then catching fire.
Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi told The Advocate that the 16-year-old driver could not get out before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Deputies were able to rescue a 13-year-old girl from the passenger seat.
The driver died on the scene, while the girl was taken to the hospital for treatment.
This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated once further information becomes available.
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