14-year-old Muncie boy taken into custody after crash that critically injured 3

MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie police said a 14-year-old boy driving a car involved in a Tuesday crash that left three people critically injured had earlier stolen that vehicle after attacking its owner.

The 14-year-old was taken into custody after Tuesday's crash, reported at 11:46 a.m. at 18th and Madison streets.

He was being held Wednesday, apparently in the Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center, on preliminary counts of robbery, aggravated battery, auto theft, criminal recklessness, disregarding a traffic control device resulting in injury, strangulation, leaving the scene of a crash, reckless driving and driving without ever receiving a license.

Melissa Criswell, deputy chief for the Muncie Police Department, said the victim of the "robbery/car theft and battery" was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

More: Five injured in 2-vehicle crash in south Muncie; one driver reported to be 14 years old

On Tuesday, Criswell said the car driven by the 14-year-old was traveling northbound on Madison Street at a high rate of speed when it collided with a westbound car driven by a 52-year-old Muncie woman.

That woman, and two passengers, ages 18 and 14, who were in the teen's vehicle, were all "critically injured" and remained hospitalized.

A Tuesday news release indicated a third passenger, reported to be 10 years old, was also in the car driven by the 14-year-old boy.

The investigation by Muncie police detectives and the MPD crash reconstruction team is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the department's detective division at 765-747-4867.

Any effort to waive the 14-year-old boy into adult court would have to be launched by Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman's office and then approved by a juvenile court magistrate.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: 14-year-old Muncie boy taken into custody after crash that critically injured 3