Des Moines police identify teenagers who died from crash involving stolen car

Des Moines police on Friday released the names of the two 15-year-olds and an 18-year-old who died in Wednesday’s fatal crash involving a stolen car.

Jamarion Jackson, 18, Eric Vortes Jr., 15, and James “JT” Taylor III ,15, were identified as the three teenagers who died after a 2013 Hyundai Sonata that was reported stolen crashed.

The car was spotted by a Des Moines Police detective near Ninth and Center streets in downtown Des Moines around 12:42 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release.

The detective monitored the vehicle as it traveled through downtown and watched it pull into MacRae Park at 1021 Davis Ave. After a marked patrol car entered behind it, the car sped off onto Davis Avenue eastbound.

Officers did not follow in pursuit because they lost sight of the vehicle, the release said.

Officers located the Hyundai crashed in the 600 block of Davis Avenue several minutes later. Officers immediately requested emergency medical services and initiated lifesaving efforts, including CPR, the release said.

A preliminary investigation reveals the Hyundai was traveling eastbound on Davis Avenue at a high rate of speed, running the stop sign at Southwest Ninth Street and continuing eastbound, according to a news release. Evidence shows the vehicle struck a north curb, left the roadway, and struck a tree. All occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

Jackson died at the scene, and Vortes and Taylor were pronounced dead on Thursday.

A fourth passenger, an 18-year-old, remains critically injured in the hospital, the news release said.

The crash is still be investigated and more information will be released, police said.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines police identify teens who died in crash of a stolen car