Several teens joyriding through downtown Eatonton late Saturday night ended up fleeing from law enforcement, with one being transported to the hospital.
According to Sgt. First Class Michael Screws, post commander of Georgia State Patrol Post 8 in Madison, said a 2002 Chevrolet pickup was traveling north on North Jefferson Avenue in Eatonton at 11:05 p.m. on Nov. 1 without its headlights on.
GSP Trooper Derrick Snead saw the pickup and tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver did not stop and instead, “fled recklessly through town,” Screws said.
The unidentified driver of the pickup continued east on State Route 16 and turned onto Wards Chapel Road, where Trooper Snead conducted a successful PIT maneuver, Screws said. The impact caused the pickup to run off the roadway and flip over.
At least three teens got out and ran away, leaving behind a 15-year-old male lying on the ground. That teen had not been wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle when it overturned. He was taken by ambulance to Atrium Health Navicent Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Screws.
A 13-year-old male who initially ran away from the pickup later returned and surrendered to Trooper First Class W. Stephens.
Authorities are still searching for the others who were in the pickup, Screws said. Authorities believe the driver was most likely underage and thus unlicensed.
When asked whether the juveniles were residents of Eatonton or Putnam County, Screws said the investigation so far indicates the teens are from a neighboring county.
The 15-year-old was later released from the hospital with minor injuries.
“And guns were located at the scene, so we will likely have charges potentially on all the occupants,” Screws added.