In a car full of intoxicated individuals, a 13-year-old girl took the wheel late on Aug. 27 and crashed it into a telephone pole in Freeport, Texas, severely injuring one of her passengers. However, according to Texas law, she is not the only person responsible for the crash.

In addition to the 13-year-old driver, two 22-year-old passengers were also arrested following the Texas DWI accident. They are now charged with public intoxication and aggravated assault. They could also face vehicular manslaughter charges if the 16-year-old passenger, who was listed in critical condition, dies.

The 13-year-old, who was both drunk and high on drugs, reportedly took the wheel because her fellow passengers were too inebriated to drive. That's when a short but disastrous jaunt through town ensued, beginning when the 13-year-old driver backed the Mazda up into a truck as the truck's driver was pumping gas. Instead of stopping, she drove away from the scene with the man now following behind.

The girl is believed to have hit speeds of up to 70 miles before losing control and slamming into a telephone pole on the side of the road on Avenue A in Freeport, Texas. Seeing the incident unfold, the man in the pickup truck called for rescue units.

Once authorities arrived on the scene, the 13-year-old girl admitted to driving the vehicle and the two eldest passengers were arrested. Upon leaving the jail, one of those passengers, who was in the front seat during the incident, told local media that the accident was not her fault.

Source: Click2Houston.com, "Police: Drunken 13-Year-Old crashes car; adults in vehicle arrested," Aug. 30, 2011