Reason Behind High-Speed Chase Elusive : Crime: Police wonder why three youngsters refused to stop during pursuit, which ended in their deaths.

Investigators were still at a loss Wednesday to explain why three young boys refused to stop for pursuing officers during a high-speed chase that began in Mira Mesa and ended in a crumpled heap in National City, where the boys’ stolen car slammed into a telephone pole, killing the three youths.

Two of the victims were 13 years old; the driver was 15. On Wednesday, the medical examiner’s officer identified the second 13-year-old as Daniel Frederick Maurer Jr. of Rancho Penasquitos. Linh Pham, 13, of Mira Mesa was the first teen-ager identified Tuesday.

A spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said investigators are “reasonably sure” of the driver’s identity, which must be confirmed through dental records. He is believed to be from North City.

The incident began when a 1986 Toyota Corolla was stolen Monday from the North County Fair mall in Escondido. Who stole the car is unknown, National City Police said.

However, later that night Linh sneaked out of his house on River Rim Road and apparently joined the two other youths in the car. Linh’s family discovered him missing after 8 p.m. and thought he had been kidnaped because they found his shoes outside. His 16-year-old sister, Phuong, called authorities to report him missing, San Diego police said.

A few hours later, close to midnight, San Diego police officers saw the youths cruising in Mira Mesa and became suspicious. A computer check revealed that the car was stolen, and police attempted to stop the teen-agers on Mira Mesa Boulevard.

But the driver sped away, racing down several freeways during a 30-minute chase, ending in National City.

National City Police Sgt. Steven Murray said the car was traveling about 90 m.p.h. on Highland Avenue when it turned suddenly to avoid a bus, skidded and wrapped itself around a telephone pole. The three youths died at the scene.

National City officers detected a pulse when they examined Linh, but paramedics were unable to save him, Murray said.

“This was a tragedy, pure and simple. I can’t describe to you just how awesome this crash was,” said Murray.

“But the main thing to point out about this is that all they had to do was stop. True, they were in a stolen vehicle and their tails were going to be put to the grease. But, if they had stopped, they would be alive today. It’s a sad, sad thing. It was all so senseless.”

“The other thing to point out, and it’s a painful thing to say,” Murray added, “is the lack of effective parenting. Did the parents of these kids know where they were at midnight?”