PD: Teens Topple Stolen Van During Donut Attempt

A group of Naugatuck teenagers stole a van from a street in Oxford on Saturday, went on a joyride across the area and then, in attempt to pull off a donut in a soccer field, toppled the stolen vehicle onto its side, police said.

Now the boys, two 14-year-olds and two 16-year-olds, are all facing criminal charges including larceny and reckless driving.

At 11:40 p.m. police responded to the Lantern Park condominium complex after getting a 911 call regarding a reckless driver in the field on Round Tree Drive. When the officers got there, they found the white 2003 Ford E-350 on its right side and two teenagers still inside, said Lt. Robert Harrison, Naugatuck police spokesman.

Harrison said the driver was attempting to do a “donut” in the field, meaning he was trying to drive the van in a circle so to cause damage to the ground. But he failed on the first attempt and the van went down, Harrison said.

Neither of the boys, including the 14-year-old driver, were injured during the crash, and both were safely extricated.

The two 14-year-olds had stolen the van in Oxford, although Harrison said he didn’t have information on specifically where the theft happened. They then drove through both Naugatuck and Waterbury to pick up their two friends, the 16-year-olds, before coming back to Lantern Park.

Clear tire marks were still at the soccer the field Monday, leading back to a nearby parking lot. Two of the boys had gotten out of the van before the donut attempt and were socializing with some nearby observers, Harrison said. Harrison said drugs and alcohol were not a factor in this incident.

All four teens were released to their parents and are due in Waterbury Juvenile Court on April 24.