4 Youngsters Hurt in Crash of Stolen Car

WESTMINSTER — An 11-year-old driving a stolen car ran a stop sign and crashed into a utility pole and a palm tree Monday, seriously injuring himself and three young friends, police said.

The boy, whose name was not released, was driving an estimated 70 m.p.h. when he crashed the car at 3:08 p.m.

The driver apparently was trying to make a U-turn when he lost control and crashed, police said. He and a 12-year-old in the front seat were taken by ambulance to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, police said. An 11-year-old and a 12-year-old in the back seat were more seriously injured and were airlifted to Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

All four boys suffered head and face injuries. They were in serious condition late Monday but their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

Police said the car, a white 1984 Toyota Corolla, had been stolen minutes earlier about four blocks from the accident scene.