Harger: A 15-year-old led troopers on a 100 mph chase — then went home

We had a story Tuesday morning that made me think, you know what, I’d better follow up on this one.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) troopers said a group of teenagers led them on a high-speed chase around 3:30 a.m. near Marysville. A trooper tried to stop a driver going 88 in a 60 zone, showing signs of DUI. The car sped off at more than 100 miles per hour. The driver lost control. Four teenagers ran.

I read that and thought, there has to be more to this story. So I reached out to WSP. Trooper Kelsey Harding got back to me quickly. Professional. Helpful. And what she told me only raised more questions.

I asked about the ages of the kids. Three 15-year-olds. One 16-year-old. I asked if the driver was licensed. No. I asked if any of them were booked into custody. Only one was. But not for this. For an existing warrant.

So I followed up. Was the one booked on the warrant the driver?

The one booked was not the driver. The driver was one of the 15-year-olds.

Let me make sure you caught that. A 15-year-old, unlicensed, possibly impaired, led state troopers on a chase at more than 100 miles per hour in the middle of the night. Lost control of the car. Ran from the police. And was released to a family member.

A car going 100 miles per hour on the freeway can kill people. Other drivers. Passengers. Pedestrians, if that chase had gone differently. This wasn’t a prank. This was dangerous. And the consequences? A referral to the prosecutor. We’ll see if anything comes of it.

I’m a dad. I have a teenage boy with a wild streak. I get it. I was a teenage boy once. I made bad decisions. But I knew not to get in a car with a 15-year-old driver. I knew not to be out at 3:30 a.m. on a school night. And I knew if a cop was anywhere nearby, you act right. You don’t run. Where did that go?

But here’s the thing. I’m not sure it’s only the boys I’m frustrated with.

Where were the parents?

Four kids. Middle of the night. A school night. One’s in a car he can’t legally drive. Another apparently has an outstanding warrant. How does this happen? How do four teenagers get out of four houses at 3 a.m. without anyone noticing?

I get it. I know you can’t watch your kid every second. I know teenagers sneak out. I know they make choices you can’t control. But at some point, we have to ask whether parents are instilling the basics. Respect for the law. Fear of consequences. Understanding that actions have weight.

Some would say the system failed here. That these kids needed to be booked, held, and made to feel the weight of what they did. Others would say they’re just kids, they need intervention and support, not jail. I, honestly, don’t have a clean answer.

I’m not here to condemn anyone’s parenting. It’s hard. Kids make choices you can’t control. But a 15-year-old was out at 3 a.m., behind a wheel he had no business touching, making decisions that could have killed someone.

And then he went home. I hope there’s a real conversation happening in that house. Not yelling. A conversation. Because this is the moment. This is when it either turns around or it doesn’t.

And that part isn’t up to the system.

That’s on the people who love him.

Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here. 

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