A boy drove off in a relative’s SUV Monday and led South Bend police on a wild chase before crashing into a pond. Somehow, no one was seriously hurt.
Just before 7:30 a.m., police received a call that a boy, about age 10, had stolen a family member’s SUV in the River Park area. As officers were responding, police received several calls about the SUV driving recklessly along Ironwood Drive, including the report of a hit-and-run at Ironwood and Pleasant Street.
The boy then headed south out of the city limits. Police next heard he hit a mailbox at Fellows Street and Jackson Road. When a South Bend officer tried to stop him at Fellows and Johnson Road, he drove across the grass of St. Jude Catholic School, crashing into a pond in front of the school.
The boy was able to escape the vehicle and get out of the pond on his own. He was taken to the hospital for injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
South Bend police and school officials declined to comment or release more information. A police spokeswoman said they were still reviewing potential charges.
