A pre-dawn police chase through Milwaukee ended with a stolen Honda Accord slamming into a Marquette University student transit van near 17th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, prosecutors say. Two people in the van suffered minor injuries, and officers detained the 17-year-old driver at the scene after he briefly tried to run before giving up.
According to a criminal complaint, officers first spotted a gray Honda Accord speeding near Layton Boulevard and Scott Street around 2:30 a.m. They attempted a traffic stop near 32nd Street and National Avenue, but the driver took off instead of pulling over. The complaint identifies the driver as 17-year-old Xavier Torres‑Sevilla of Milwaukee and details a multi-mile pursuit that ended with the crash into the Marquette van, as reported by WISN.
How the Pursuit Unfolded
Investigators say the chase stretched more than four miles. During that run, Torres‑Sevilla allegedly blew through eight red lights, crossed the median into oncoming traffic and pushed the Honda to an estimated 90 to 100 miles per hour before crashing into the Marquette transit van near 17th and Wisconsin Avenue. The complaint states that the van’s 31-year-old driver and a 19-year-old passenger received minor injuries in the collision. It also says Torres‑Sevilla crawled out of the driver-side window after the wreck, initially ignored officers’ commands and ultimately surrendered once his own injuries caught up with him. A court commissioner set cash bond at $35,000. Prosecutors included those details in the initial complaint, according to WISN.
What Officers Recovered
When officers searched Torres‑Sevilla after the crash, they say they found an Autel MaxiIM vehicle programmer and an Autel Bluetooth connector. The complaint notes that the programmer’s display showed a message indicating the Honda’s key had been successfully reprogrammed. Devices in the Autel MaxiIM family are marketed as professional key-programming and diagnostic tools used by locksmiths and repair shops to read, write and learn transponder keys, according to Autel. Investigators flagged the gear as potential evidence in figuring out how the Honda was taken in the first place.
Where This Fits Into a Larger Pattern
High-speed pursuits and stolen cars are a volatile mix on city streets, and this case drops directly into two familiar trouble spots for law enforcement. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports that teen drivers were involved in 18,823 crashes in 2024, including 70 fatalities, a reminder that younger drivers carry an elevated crash risk. In Milwaukee, police reporting and community documents have also pointed to a sharp rise in auto thefts in recent years, with repeat juvenile involvement showing up in some cases, which authorities have tried to tackle through targeted initiatives.
Charges and Court Status
Prosecutors have charged Torres‑Sevilla with fleeing an officer, causing damage to property, second-degree reckless endangering safety and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He remained in custody after his initial court appearance while investigators continue reviewing the crash, the recovered tools and the broader complaint…