HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — An attempted traffic stop led to a crash that killed a 13-year-old boy and injured three other teenagers in Highlands County on Tuesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said troopers attempted to pull over a 2021 Kia Forte for speeding on US 27 around 9:50 p.m.
The Kia attempted to flee and, as a result, crashed into the rear of a 2012 Ford E350.
A 13-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Kia was seriously injured during the crash and later passed away at a local hospital.
The Kia's driver, an 18-year-old man, was injured and taken to a hospital. He currently has criminal charges pending.
Two other passengers of the Kia, a 16-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, were both injured and taken to local hospitals. The girl is in serious condition.
The Ford's driver was uninjured.
Pasco County woman trying to rebuild mobile home after hurricanes
"I cried, of course, because I've worked very hard getting it nice, which has been difficult for me since I lost my husband and being alone,” Kelly Welty said.
Welty's mobile home lost its roof during Hurricane Milton. She said it was the only one in the Buena Vista community to get totaled by a tornado.
