Boy, 13, wrecks stolen car
SANDYCREEK TWP, Venango County — A 13-year-old boy with a juvenile record for stealing vehicles was driving a stolen car Friday afternoon when he crashed it into a sport utility vehicle driven by state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, state police said.
“He’s a pretty bad driver,” Trooper Jeff Ames said of the young suspect, “and it’s lucky no one was hurt.”
Hutchinson and his wife were in the other vehicle.
The boy was arrested after the wreck and is at a juvenile detention facility. He faces a list of felony and other charges in Venango County juvenile court.
Police said Hutchinson, 52, of Oil City was southbound on Route 8 in Sandycreek Township, south of Franklin, about 4:35 p.m. when the Nissan Versa that the teen was driving sideswiped Hutchinson’s SUV.
Hutchinson and his wife, Mary Beth, were wearing seat belts and weren’t hurt.
The couple was en route to the Butler Country Club in Penn Township that night for a county Republican dinner. They arrived late to the event due to the crash.
Hutchinson represents the 21st Senate District, which includes parts of Butler and Warren counties, and all of Venango, Clarion and Forest counties.
Police did not release the teen’s name because of his age, but he is not unfamiliar to law enforcement officials.
“He’s got a juvenile record and this wasn’t the first vehicle he’s stolen,” said Ames, the investigating officer.
Police believe the youth stole the car minutes before he crashed it into Hutchinson’s vehicle.
“The crash happened not far, less than half a mile, from where he stole the car,” Ames said, noting the boy was not speeding.
The teen is charged with theft of a vehicle, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle and driving without a license.
The boy was placed at the Pathways Adolescent Center in Oil City.
At the time, authorities said, he was already attending the school for troubled youth that is part of the same facility.
“The kid’s got problems,” Ames said.
