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WEST VALLEY CITY — Police were looking Friday for three to four people who carjacked a vehicle with a 16-year-old boy inside.
Just after 11 p.m. Thursday at 1362 W. 3630 South, three or four armed men wearing masks broke out the window of a vehicle, pulled the woman who was driving out of the car, assaulted her, and drove off in her car while a 16-year-old boy was still inside, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.
Police tracked down the vehicle about an hour later in Taylorsville, near 5000 South and 1300 West. Officers set up tire spikes as they prepared to make a stop, she said. The suspects fled and ran over the spikes.
During that time, while the car was going between 25 and 30 mph, she said the 16-year-old either jumped or was thrown out of the vehicle.
The fleeing vehicle crashed a short time later and the occupants got out and ran, Vainuku said. Police surrounded the area and sent a K-9 into the area, but were unable to locate anyone.
Vainuku said the carjacking was “absolutely not random” and believe the 16-year-old was targeted by the suspects who were calling him by name. The boy has been “uncooperative” with police, Vainuku said.
The teenager and the woman who was initially carjacked suffered minor injuries, she said.
