Vehicles stolen from Bradenton repair shop hit a roof, burst into flames, police say
Two vehicles stolen from an auto body shop Sunday morning were involved in a fiery crash that saw one of them hit the roof of a nearby home, the Bradenton Police Department said.
Police are investigating the theft of at least 12 vehicles from a repair shop in the 700 block of 11th Ave. W., Bradenton, where multiple people broke into the business between 7 and 10 a.m. Sunday, stealing the keys and removing the cars from the shop, a press release said.
At around 12:20 p.m., investigators say two of the stolen vehicles crashed in the 700 block of 12th Ave. W., with one engulfed in flames and the other on its side after hitting the roof of a home.
The crash was a T-bone collision, with the front of a Ford Mustang colliding with the driver side of a Ford F-250 pickup truck, causing the truck to roll over into a yard of a home. Due to the height of the truck, it struck the edge of the roof before coming to rest on its side, BPD Public Information Officer Meredith Frameli told the Bradenton Herald.
A video posted online appears to show the Mustang driving at high speed before colliding with the truck at an intersection. Photos shared by Bradenton police show the aftermath of the crash, with a Mustang that sustained heavy fire damage and the F-250 being extracted by a tow truck in the background.
The driver of one of the stolen vehicles, who was a juvenile, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and is being treated at a hospital, according to a release. That driver is being charged with motor vehicle theft, reckless driving and driving without a driver’s license.
The second driver, who has not been identified, left the scene of the crash, police say.
While the investigation is still in the early stages, Frameli said that it appears that several teenagers and young adults were using the stolen vehicle for joyriding, with several of the stolen vehicles being spotted near the crash site.
As of Monday afternoon, the agency recovered all 12 stolen vehicles, including the two involved in the crash, officials say.
They are also working with the auto body shop to confirm the total number of stolen vehicles, of which 12 are currently known, in addition to working to determine how many suspects were involved in the motor vehicle thefts.
Anyone with information related to the case or these vehicles is asked to contact the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477. You can also make an anonymous tip at manateecrimestoppers.com.
