A pair of teenagers from Colorado found themselves in hot water after leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase that ended in a fiery crash. Michael Howell-McGlynn and Kristine Elisabeth Romero, both 19 years old, were arrested by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office after being pulled from the burning wreckage of a stolen 2015 Subaru Forrester. The car had been reported stolen in an armed carjacking prior to the incident.
The saga began when officers spotted the stolen SUV in a parking lot in Berthoud around 4 a.m. When they tried to stop the vehicle, Howell-McGlynn and Romero took off at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The police gave chase, and a dramatic pursuit ensued.
As the suspects approached an intersection, they slowed down, prompting the officers to take action. In an attempt to stop the fleeing car, law enforcement rammed into the Subaru. The impact caused the vehicle to hit a curb, collide with a tree, and erupt into flames.
Quick-thinking officers rushed to extract Howell-McGlynn and Romero from the burning car. They also recovered a rifle from the wreckage. Both teenagers were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries before being released and booked into the Larimer County Jail.
The mugshots of the young perpetrators captured the aftermath of the chaotic event. Howell-McGlynn, with tattoos and a mustache, appeared somber with his head wrapped in bandages and blood visible on his chest. Romero, on the other hand, sported a disheveled hairstyle, metallic eye shadow, and visible injuries to her face.
Social media users were quick to criticize the duo for their appearances, with one commenter jokingly asking if there were “101 Dalmatians in the trunk” and another remarking that “Halloween was over two weeks ago.”
Howell-McGlynn, the driver of the stolen car, faced charges including reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer, and vehicular eluding resulting in bodily injury to another. Romero was charged with conspiracy to commit a class 4 felony and had an outstanding warrant for assault on a peace officer.
Sheriff John Feyen condemned the reckless actions of the teenagers, emphasizing the importance of protecting the community from dangerous criminals. He praised the deputies for apprehending the suspects and preventing further harm to lives and property in Northern Colorado.
