CORNELIA, Ga. — Two juveniles are facing charges after authorities say a stolen car crashed into a Cornelia Waffle House while fleeing Demorest police. An adult passenger escaped on foot and remains at large.
Demorest police said the Hyundai Elantra had been reported stolen out of Baldwin.
Pursuit ends in crash
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the 15-year-old driver was fleeing a marked patrol vehicle with its emergency lights and siren activated when he lost control of the vehicle around 4:04 a.m. on July 18.
Demorest Assistant Police Chief James Minutello said the pursuit began after an officer clocked the Hyundai traveling 44 mph in a 25 mph zone.
The teen was driving south on U.S. 441/GA 385 and attempted to turn right onto GA 105 (Cannon Bridge Road), the GSP crash report states. He lost control, left the roadway, struck a Georgia Department of Transportation traffic sign, an embankment and a partially covered water supply line, then vaulted onto private property.
The car struck two parking posts before crashing into the Waffle House at 599 Historic U.S. 441.
Three people were inside the vehicle.
Driver, 12-year-old passenger charged
The driver and a 12-year-old passenger were injured and taken by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham for treatment. After receiving medical care, the driver was transported to a regional youth detention center.
Minutello said the 25-year-old male passenger who fled has not been located.
No one inside the Waffle House was injured.
The driver, whose name is being withheld because of his age, is charged with speeding, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving without a valid license, reckless driving, passing in a no-passing zone, failure to maintain lane, driving too fast for conditions, obstruction, second-degree criminal damage to property and theft by receiving stolen property.
The 12-year-old passenger is charged with obstruction.
The Georgia State Patrol investigated the crash. The Demorest Police Department is handling the criminal charges.
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