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Crime spree led by teenagers stopped by crash in Marion County, police say

OCALA, Fla. — A crash involving a stolen truck finally put a stop to a crime spree led by teenagers in Marion County, police said.

Investigators said seven children, between the ages of 11 and 16, were behind the crimes and two of them ended up in a hospital.

The crash put a stop to the violence that happened Monday on W State Road 40 near SW 60th Avenue.

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Police said the children came from Tampa and believe they went to Marion County just to commit crimes.

Two 16-year-old suspects are facing numerous charges.

Police said the children stole ammunition, firearms, keys, credit cards, cash and clothing from at least nine unsecured auto burglaries in the Fore Ranch neighborhood.

The suspects were spotted checking vehicle doors and riding around in a maroon Dodge Durango, which was later reported stolen out of Tampa and was later found abandoned with a blown tire, police said.

The suspects then stole a truck.

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Marion deputies said due to juveniles being visible within the bed of the truck they did not pursue the vehicle.

Police said eventually the suspects lost control on the 6400 block of State Road 40.

The suspects went off the road, into the median and then into oncoming traffic.

The truck then crashed into two other vehicles.

Everyone involved in the crash was taken and treated at nearby hospitals.

Myrt Price

Myrt Price, WFTV.com

Myrt Price joined the eyewitness news team as a general assignment reporter in October of 2012.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.