Teen crashed stolen car into pole in Waukegan, killing passenger: police

A 15-year-old boy is facing a reckless homicide charge after crashing a stolen car into a pole, killing his teenage passenger, Sunday in Waukegan.

Officers responded about 11:30 p.m. to the 100 block of North Jackson Street for reports of a serious crash, Waukegan police said. When they arrived, officers found a black Nissan that had crashed into a fence and utility pole.

Nearby, the 15-year-old was trying to help a 14-year-old boy who was laying on the ground unresponsive, police said.

The younger boy was later pronounced dead at a hospital, police said. His identity has not been released pending an autopsy and notification of family.

The 15-year-old initially told officers that he and the younger boy had been struck by the Nissan, police said, but an investigation revealed that the pair found the Nissan running in a driveway and drove off in it.

The 15-year-old lost control and crashed, ejecting the younger boy from the car, police said.

The older boy is also charged with theft of a motor vehicle and criminal trespass of a motor vehicle, police said.

He is being held at the Depke Juvenile Complex in Vernon Hills.