CLIVE, Iowa — Clive police have identified the three teenagers who died and the two others who were injured after a high-speed chase early Monday morning.
Urbandale police received a report Monday morning from the area of 3700 Patricia Dr. The caller said someone was going through her car. The caller went out and saw a car full of people fleeing the area. She was able to get the plate for the dispatcher.
It is not clear who was driving the car at this time.
Police say the plate was listed as stolen out of Urbandale. A Clive officer went into Urbandale to assist. The Urbandale and Clive officers found the 2006 Chevy Malibu driving eastbound on Douglas Av at 86th St and attempted a traffic stop.
The car fled from the attempted stop, southbound on 86th St at a high rate of speed. They continued south on 86th St into Clive with, police say, speeds topping 100 mph.
As the vehicle crossed the railroad tracks at Swanson Blvd, the vehicle lost control and left the west side of the roadway. According to police, the car flipped several times, collided with a light pole, and launched across Walnut Creek, striking the south bank and coming to rest at the edge of the parking lot of the Cool Basil restaurant.
Responding officers found multiple occupants ejected at the scene. Multiple officers performed CPR and utilized an AED on multiple victims in an attempt to save their lives, while awaiting help from medics.
Police say 16-year-old Emmanuel Nyariel, 14-year-old Majok Nyariel and 14-year-old Zacharia Warsame died in the crash. 13-year-old Mohamed Elzubier and 15-year-old Hamid Lula are both in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. All of the victims were teenagers Des Moines Public Schools students.
During an internal investigation, the Clive Police Department found that the elapsed time from the initial attempted stop until the crash was just one minute and 12 seconds. Two loaded hand guns were also found at the scene.
“Children should not die like this, and when it happens it is an unspeakable tragedy for families, friends and the community," Clive Police Chief Michael Venema said in a statement. "We grieve the loss of life. Our officers involved have been deeply affected by this incident, but we know that these feelings are minor compared to the pain of the families involved.”