ROSHARON, Texas – A 14-year-old driving a stolen pickup truck died in a crash following a high-speed police chase, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.
Investigators said state troopers tried to pull over the truck on FM 521 with three teenagers inside about 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Troopers said the truck driver was speeding, traveling 72 mph in a 60 mph zone.
"The truck came to a stop and as the trooper was getting out of his vehicle, the truck took off. At that point, the trooper began to pursue the truck again," said John Sampa with the Department of Public Safety.
The high-speed chase lasted about 10 minutes, officials said.
The truck veered onto a dirt road, hit a soft spot and the driver lost control near FM 1462 at County Road 39, according to troopers.
"The truck was traveling down this dirt road, lost control and flipped multiple times, ejecting the driver. The other two were not ejected," Sampa said.
The driver, seventh-grader Ezequiel Serna, died at the scene.
KPRC Local 2 tried to speak to Serna's family, but they would only say that he was a good kid who will be missed.
The two passengers, 12 and 13 years old, were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Troopers said the truck was stolen from a Comcast contractor and the teenagers were seen tossing marijuana out of the truck window during the chase.
Investigators said the teenagers could face drug and auto theft charges.
The three teenagers are from the city of South Houston and attend Queens Intermediate School in the Pasadena Independent School District. Grief counselors were sent to the school Tuesday for students and faculty.
"There were a lot of kids crying today when they heard about it," classmate Rosie Cardenas said. "As a friend, I loved him very much. We were good friends."
"He made a lot of bad decisions in his life, but he was a good person," classmate Julissa Gomez said. "He had a bright future."