A 19-year-old man has died and multiple others have been injured after a minor drove an allegedly stolen Toyota Avalon through a red light and crashed with another car on the Barton Highway overnight.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Police said the incident marked the first fatality on ACT roads for the year.
Acting Inspector Jonathon Turkich told media the initial investigation confirmed the Avalon ran a red light travelling from Clarrie Hermes Drive to Kuringa Drive, colliding with the Hilux travelling through a green light along Barton Highway.
The 19-year-old man was a passenger in the Avalon, which was also carrying three 14-year-olds, including the driver, he said.
Acting Inspector Turkich said teenagers had been transported to Canberra Hospital in various conditions.
He added that the passengers of the Toyota Hilux also received treatment for injuries but were "otherwise unscathed".
ACT Fire and Rescue, paramedics and police were called to the intersection of the Barton Highway, Clarrie Hermes Drive and Kuringa Drive just before midnight.
The 14-year-old driver of the Avalon is in police custody and is expected to be charged in relation to the crash, police said.
Acting Inspector Turkich said the incident would have a ripple effect for varying people across the ACT and the country.
"It's devastating," he said.
"There's so many families that are gonna be affected by this - first-responders, witnesses, paramedics - everybody's affected when something like this [happens] and it makes them even more tragic when they're 14 years-old," he said.
"If I can get a message to any 14-year-old person or younger it is, please, please look after yourselves.
"Please, please look after your friends and please, please think about your family and all those around you."
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dash cam footage relating to the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting reference 7649756.
