A 13-year-old girl who died after crashing a stolen van during a police pursuit in Itasca County has been identified by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
State Patrol troopers deployed a stop stick device in an attempt to deflate the van’s tires, but it didn’t make contact with the vehicle. Bryan continued onto Highway 6 without headlights and eventually left the roadway near County Road 11 in Deer Lake Township, where she struck a tree.
Bryan was the only person in the vehicle and died at the scene. Authorities said she was not wearing a seat belt and that alcohol is not believed to be a factor.
Investigators later learned the van had been reported stolen earlier that night from a residence in Cohasset. No squad cars made contact with the vehicle during the pursuit, authorities said. The BCA is leading the investigation at the request of the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol is handling the crash reconstruction.
