Reeco Richardson, of Washington, DC, was charged on April 24 with stealing the Toyota Echo that crashed into Chevy Chase Circle on March 23, according to the Montgomery County Police Department.

Richardson, 18, was riding in the front passenger seat of the car at the time of the crash, shortly after which the car was engulfed by flames, police said.

The driver of the stolen auto, Reynard Osman—16, of Washington, DC—died on March 28 as a result of injuries sustained during the fiery crash, police added.

Rear passengers Emanuel Demitrius Nelson, 16, and Tyree Dayon Nelson, 14, died at the scene of the crash. They were from DC, and were cousins, The Gazette reported.

Richardson was charged with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, with the unauthorized removal of property and with the theft of property worth more than $1,000 and less than $10,000. He was also charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, and was released on his own recognizance following police department processing, according to a news release.

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Shortly before the crash on March 23, an officer with the Montgomery County Police Department's second district saw the car near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and East-West Highway. When the officer looked up the vehicle's license plate number on his computer, he discovered that the car was stolen.

Before the officer attempted to stop the stolen car, it sped up and headed south on Connecticut Avenue. As it entered Chevy Chase Circle, it struck the tree, police said.

Police used fire extinguishers to put out the fire, and pulled Richardson and Osman out of the car before it was engulfed by flames. Emanuel Demitrius Nelson and Tyree Dayon Nelson could not be rescued in time, and were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

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