Girl, 6, killed in joyride with brother, 8, at the wheel

PHOENIX, Ariz-- A 6-year-old girl has died after her 8-year-old brother took her on a joyride in their mother's car and crashed Wednesday night in South Phoenix, police said.

The children's mother believed they had been kidnapped when she discovered they were missing, said Sgt. Steve Martos of the Phoenix Police Department.

"It's a tragic story, all the way round," said Martos, who did not give the children's names.

The mother gave the children a bath and put them to bed around 9:30 p.m., he said.

The children's grandmother, who lives nearby, was driving home when saw her daughter's front door open.

She went in, woke up the woman, and they discovered both the children were missing, Martos said.

As they came out to check with neighbors, the children's mother discovered that her car -- a 2010 Hyundai Elantra which had been parked outside -- was also gone, Martos said.

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