(Urbandale, IA) -- An 18-year-old from Des Moines is charged in a deadly overnight crash in Urbandale. Police say Sheldon Ballentine is facing several charges including Homicide By Vehicle. Police say Ballentine and a second driver led police on a brief chase before colliding on 86th Street, near the police station. Police say both vehicles had been stolen. The other driver, 22-year-old Jeffrey Lionel Smith Jr. of Des Moines died in the crash.
Police say around 3:30 this (Friday) morning an officer saw a white Hyundai Elantra, reported a stolen, traveling southbound in the 4300 block of 86th Street. A black Kia Soul was then seen traveling near the first car. Both vehicles accelerated and drove away from the officer at a high rate of speed, leading the officer on a brief chase that ended in a crash in the 37-hundred block of 86th Street.
Ballentine was taken into custody and faces the following charges.
· Theft 2nd Degree
· Homicide by Motor Vehicle
· Felony Eluding
· Possession of a Control Substance
· Traffic Charges