Teens in stolen car cause accident

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NAUGATUCK — Teenagers in a stolen car caused a three-car accident at the intersection of Union Street and North Main Street Saturday afternoon trying to flee from police.

Police were conducting motor vehicle safety inspections on North Main Street near the Route 8 on-ramp at about 5:50 p.m. when police said an officer observed a 2011 black Mercedes Benz, which had been reported stolen, approach a stop sign.

The officer turned on the cruiser’s lights and sirens and tried to pull the car over, but the car sped off, heading south on North Main Street, police said.

The car passed several vehicles on the wrong side of the road, according to police, as the officer gave chase. When the car got to the intersection of Union Street and North Main Street, police said it passed traffic stopped at the traffic light on the wrong side of the road and drove into the intersection, where it crashed into a Buick Envoy driving through the intersection. The impact caused the Buick to collide with a Toyota Corolla, police said.

The Mercedes rolled onto its side, police said, and the three juveniles attempted to run away on foot. Officers quickly caught the juveniles, who are 14, 16 and 17 years old, police said. The 14-year-old was driving, according to police.

Police said everyone in the three cars involved in the crash, including the teens, were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police said the car was stolen on July 19 at about 5:20 p.m. from the Sunoco gas station on North Main Street. The owner of the car left it running at a gas pump and went inside the store, police said.

The teenagers are facing various charges and were released on a juvenile summons. They are scheduled to appear Aug. 6 at Waterbury Juvenile Court. Their names weren’t released due to their age.

Police said there have been numerous incidents recently involving juveniles stealing cars in Naugatuck and surrounding communities. Police said the thefts typically involve cars left unlocked that are running or with keys left in them. Police said juveniles are targeting drivers that leave their cars running at places like gas stations and convenience stores.

Police reminded residents to always lock their cars and take their keys.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the original post to include information on when and where the car was stolen.