Pursuit ends with crash into OBX home

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. (WAVY) - A Kill Devil Hills teen is facing more than a dozen charges after police say he stole a truck and eventually crashed it into a house Saturday.

According to Sgt. J.C. Towler, Jr. with the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, a Dodge pickup truck was stolen from the Belk’s parking lot. The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys inside it.

Around 9:15 p.m., the truck “accelerated through a Highway Patrol checkpoint” on Colington Road and nearly struck a trooper. Towler said a pursuit ensued and later ended when the driver crashed into an unoccupied house on West Airstrip Road.

The driver, identified by police as Tyler Joseph Franz, was injured in the crash. No one else was hurt.

Franz was arrested and charged with 13 offenses by Highway Patrol.

During the investigation, Towler said it was revealed Franz was connected to another stolen vehicle case on Jan. 7. In that instance, a 2001 Ford Explorer was stolen from the Spring Arbor Assisted Living parking lot. It was later abandoned near Walker Street.

Towler added Franz may be involved in other crimes and the investigation is ongoing.

Franz is being held at the Dare County Detention Center under a $21,000 secured bond. Additional charges are pending.