Details remain sparse about five teens ages 14-17 who reportedly left a juvenile facility in Wyoming and fled through Nebraska in two stolen vehicles, then led authorities on a foot chase.
Early Sunday morning, Nebraska State Patrol learned that five teens were “reportedly missing” form a juvenile facility in Wyoming and were believed to be traveling east through Nebraska in a stolen vehicle, says a Monday statement by the agency.
Troopers learned the group was believed to have stolen another vehicle in North Platte, Nebraska, and that the teens were traveling together in both stolen vehicles, the statement says.
A trooper found both vehicles, a Dodge Durango and Chevy Tahoe, at about 4:15 a.m., speeding 100 mph on Interstate 80 near Gothenburg, says the statement.
The trooper tried to stop the vehicles, and they both exited the interstate at the Cozad interchange, then started driving south on Highway 21. Sometimes they veered into the northbound lane, the agency wrote.
Near the intersection of Highways 21 and 23, says the statement, the Durango left the road and halted in the ditch.
Two people exited and fled on foot in a field.
The Tahoe kept going south for a few miles before halting, then the three people in it also fled on foot, the statement says.
More troopers and deputies from Dawson, Frontier and Gosper County Sheriff’s Offices converged on the scene. They searched the area for several hours, the patrol wrote.
Then “all five juveniles were taken into custody” and “turned over to” probation officials, the statement concludes.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol did not have information on the incident as of Wednesday. A number of county sheriffs in Wyoming either did not respond to voicemail requests for comment Wednesday or said they knew nothing of any escaped juveniles.
Cowboy State Daily will report additional information as it’s available.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
