Two boys arrested after Livermore stolen car pursuit ends in crash into apartment building

LIVERMORE — Two boys — a 14-year-old suspected driver and a 15-year-old passenger — were arrested Tuesday after leading police on a chase in a stolen car that ended up crashing into an apartment building.

Police said it was the second time in less than a week that the 14-year-old had fled police in a stolen vehicle. Authorities did not release information about that pursuit.

Tuesday’s incident started about 1 a.m. after officers saw a vehicle traveling eastbound  on Interstate 580 near El Charro Road that matched the description of a recently reported stolen vehicle. Officers followed the vehicle off the freeway onto Isabel Avenue and attempted to stop it near Jack London and Murrieta boulevards.

The driver failed to stop and a pursuit began with the vehicle traveling at high speed — twice the posted limit at times — and running stop signs, police said. Officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle but later spotted it again at the Leahy Square Apartments, some three miles away in the 3200 block of Leahy Way.

As officers approached the vehicle it fled for a second time and moments later the two suspects jumped out of the still-moving vehicle, police said. The vehicle then rolled into the side of an apartment building, causing an estimated $5,000 in damages, police said.

Both suspects were quickly detained and officers confirmed the vehicle had been stolen the previous day.

The youths were arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for public safety, and vandalism/property damage. They were booked at Alameda County Juvenile Hall..

Check back for updates on this developing story.