South Carolina police were just trying to check on a reported runaway. Instead, police got a reckless chase, a ditch-crashed car, and a driver who learned the hard way that you can’t outrun a radio. A 16-year-old hit the gas and tried to lose the cops on Highway 501. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

The fastest way to get in trouble

Police got a call Saturday evening about a reported runaway spotted near Chinner’s Creek in the Galivants Ferry area. While heading to check it out, officers saw a car matching the description on Highway 501 and attempted a traffic stop. Instead of pulling over, the teen floored it.

This is where things always go wrong. Where exactly did he think he was going? Did he think the cops would just give up? He must not have realized that patrol cars have radios—and that dispatchers know how to use them.

The teen was speeding toward disaster, a police chase, and a crash

Police chased him through Aynor as he swerved and sped, but his luck ran out fast. The 16-year-old lost control and crashed into a ditch on Hughes Landing Road. Fortunately, no one was injured, including the driver.

High speeds and inexperienced drivers don’t mix well. This teen is one of the lucky ones. As I previously wrote, a Michigan teen wasn’t so fortunate. He hit 153 mph before his mother texted him, “Slow the F— down!” He didn’t. Weeks later, he crashed at 105 mph, killing his best friend.

Then there’s the Australian teen who racked up 48 driving charges in six weeks. He filmed himself street racing, doing burnouts in parking lots, and driving furiously (yes, that’s a real charge). His brilliant move? Leaving his dashcam on and never deleting the footage.

This South Carolina teen avoided tragedy, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting off easy. Police charged him with reckless driving, failing to stop for blue lights, and—to top it off—running away.

Teen runaway gets a well-deserved police arrest

He ran. He crashed. He got caught. South Carolina police made sure this runaway’s joyride didn’t turn into a real tragedy. Unlike some other teens who push their luck at high speeds, he made it out with nothing but legal trouble. Next time, he might want to consider just staying home.

You can see the local coverage in the video embedded below: