According to HPD, a teenager is accused of leading a chase in the wrong direction before crashing on I-10, resulting in the death of his passenger

In Houston, Texas, a 16-year-old is facing charges after allegedly leading police on a chase that ended with a fatal crash, as reported by the Houston Police Department.

The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday near downtown in the 3400 block of the East Freeway.

Houston police officers noticed a silver Kia Rio suspected to be stolen. Despite attempts to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to comply, initiating a pursuit.

The driver proceeded westbound on Ruiz Street and then onto the Eastex Freeway exit ramp before entering the main freeway lanes in the wrong direction.

For safety reasons, HPD terminated the pursuit as the driver continued onto the Eastex Freeway and took the connector ramp onto the I-10 East Freeway, traveling east in the westbound lanes. Shortly after, the driver collided with a Kia Forte.

Officers located the crash site while searching for the suspect vehicle. A preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred approximately three minutes after police halted the pursuit.

Paramedics responded to the scene to transport the 51-year-old driver of the Kia Forte, who sustained serious injuries.

The suspect, along with four passengers believed to be between the ages of 14 and 16, was taken to a hospital by medical personnel. A female passenger in the stolen car succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

The teenage driver will be referred to Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities on charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and felony evading arrest in a motor vehicle. Additional charges may be forthcoming pending further investigation.