Children busted after crashing stolen car into tree; 1 hospitalized

Three children were caught in a stolen van early Monday morning after the vehicle crashed into a tree in Ritthem, police said. A 15-year-old boy was arrested, and a 12-year-old passenger was hospitalized with injuries.

Police attempted to stop the van around 3 a.m. on the Mortiereboulevard in Middelburg. The driver ignored the stop signal and fled. Officers pursued the vehicle, which soon crashed into a tree.

Inside the van were three boys. The 15-year-old from Borsele was behind the wheel. The 12-year-old passenger from Terneuzen sustained injuries in the crash and was transported to a hospital. A 14-year-old boy, also from Borsele, was riding in the cargo area and reported foot pain but chose to visit a doctor later.

The 15-year-old is facing charges including driving without a license and causing danger or obstruction on the road, police said. He remains in custody.

The stolen van, taken from a parking lot on Benedenstraat in 's-Heerenhoek earlier that night, was seized by police for further investigation, and the owner filed a report.