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The incident took place in Wallingford around 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, on I-91 near Exit 13.
According to state police, when troopers arrived on the scene they found an Infiniti SUV and a Hyundai sedan that had crashed. The occupants had run from the scene, witnesses said.
An investigation found that the SUV was traveling in the left lane with the Hyundai in the center lane next to the SUV, both traveling at high rates of speed when they collided, state police said.
Both vehicles were reported stolen, state police said.
A state police K-9 handler responded to the scene and searched the area for the teens including Robert John Barbera, age 18, of Meriden, and two juveniles ages 15 and 13, state police said.
The three were nabbed by Wallingford Police on Woodhouse Avenue after being alerted to the location by the K-9s.
During a search, Barbera and the 15-year-old were found in possession of marijuana, state police said.
Barbera was charged with:
- Larceny of a motor vehicle
- Reckless endangerment
- Risk of injury to a child
- Criminal trover
- Interfering with an officer or resisting arrest
- Evading responsibility
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Reckless driving
- Illegal racing on a highway
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license
- Failure to drive in a proper lane.
He was held on a $100,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
The 15-year-old was charged with:
- Larceny of a motor vehicle
- Reckless endangerment
- Criminal trover
- Interfering with an officer or resisting arrest
- Evading responsibility
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Reckless driving
- Illegal racing on a highway
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license
- Failure to drive in a proper lane.
The 13-year-old was charged with:
- Larceny of a motor vehicle
- Reckless endangerment
- Criminal trover
- Interfering with an officer or resisting arrest
- Evading responsibility
- Reckless driving
- Illegal racing on a highway
- Failure to drive in a proper lane.
The juveniles were released on a promise to appear ticket and are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
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