5 children, none of whom are old enough to drive, are charged in St. Pete's fatal hit and run in a stolen Jeep

Five children – none of them old enough to drive – are charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a stolen Jeep.

According to St. Petersburg police, the children, all boys, are between 12 and 15 years old. The boy driving at the time of the accident was 14 years old, police said.

The accident occurred Monday and resulted in the death of 70-year-old Edward Webb, who was struck while walking in the area of ​​Ninth Avenue S and 12th Street, which is near his home, police said.

Officers later found the stolen Jeep abandoned a few blocks away. According to a press release from St. Petersburg police, they identified the driver and his four passengers on Friday.

The driver is charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license and causing an accident, as well as grand theft.

The passengers – who are 12, 13, 14 and 15 years old – face charges of third-degree murder and grand theft auto.

Police did not release the boys' names and it was unclear Friday evening whether they will be charged as juveniles or adults.

Juvenile car theft is a historic problem in Pinellas County and was the subject of an extensive Tampa Bay Times investigation published in 2017.