Teen Joyride Leads To 23 Crashes

BRADENTON (CBSMiami) – Most 16-year-old's are so happy to be driving, they don't want to do anything that could screw it up. For one Bradenton teen, that didn't matter as he took a stolen car on a joyride causing 23 car accidents.

According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, Francisco Sanchez Ibarra was riding a bicycle when he spied a Ford F350 truck that had just been dropped off at a local business. He jumped into the truk and took off on a local road.

Ibarra took off through Bradenton including driving into Bradenton Beach and onto the Cortez Bridge multiple times. On the second attempt to go over the Cortez Bridge, the truck finally came to a stop after stop sticks blew out the tires.

During the chase, which was called off on the ground at one point, 23 crashes were reported including nine on the bridge. The sheriff's office said the bridge remained close for four hours as officers worked the multiple scenes.