Four juveniles from Merced County, riding in a stolen Kia Sorrento, led Ceres Police on a high-speed pursuit Saturday evening which ended in a crash into a McDonald’s and their arrests.

At 10:08 p.m., Ceres Police Sgt. Aaron Pinon was in the area of Mitchell Road near Hatch Road when he found a Kia that was reported as stolen. Sgt. Pinon followed the vehicle while awaiting assistance, including the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit.

The vehicle was driven across the Mitchell Road bridge into Beard Industrial Tract where the driver, a 16-year-old Dos Palos boy, began driving recklessly. At that point, Sgt. Pinon attempted a vehicle stop but the driver fled and the pursuit was on. Due to the recklessness of the driver and risk to public safety, the ground units backed off while the helicopter crew tracked the vehicle from a distance.

In the intersection of Yosemite Blvd. and Creekwood Drive the driver attempted to turn northbound but lost control and ran into a concrete pole in front of the McDonald’s at 3801 Yosemite Blvd. Immediately four juveniles scattered from the vehicle and fled on foot. All four were apprehended with the assistance of the Sheriff’s deputies.

The teens ranged in age from 13 to 16. The three passengers were given citations for resisting arrest while the driver was booked into Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall for evading police in a vehicle, traveling the wrong direction while fleeing, auto theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. His name was not released because of a state law protecting the identities of juvenile offenders.