The 14-year-old from Benalla in Victoria's northeast was was allegedly driving a stolen Holden Captiva on Wednesday when the car collided with a truck on the Hume Freeway at Locksley about 8.20am.
The front-seat passenger of the car, 15-year-old Montana Russell from Wodonga on the NSW border, died instantly.
A 12-year-old boy in the back seat sustained minor injuries, and was taken to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital where the alleged driver was placed under police guard.
She was on Thursday charged with dangerous driving causing death and bailed to face a children's court at a later date.
The grey Holden Captiva was allegedly stolen near Wangaratta, about 110km northeast of the crash site, on Tuesday night and was spotted driving erratically on the morning of the crash.
Officers believed the three children were friends.
Victoria Police eastern region Superintendent Michael Layton foreshadowed on Wednesday there would be consequences for the driver.
"This is a tragic scene and high risk-taking behaviour by youths," Supt Layton told reporters.
"It's totally avoidable ... (and) it's probably every parent's worst nightmare who might be dealing with rebellious teens and young people."
The truck was in the left-hand lane of the Hume Freeway and travelling in the same direction as the car when the incident happened.
The 45-year-old truck driver, Clint Sneddon from Tabilk north of Melbourne, was uninjured.
He claimed he was driving at 99km/h when the car hit his truck hard and he was jolted.
"I don't know what it is with these young kids, I don't understand what they get out of that," Mr Sneddon told Nine News.
"Look where it has got them. One is dead and (the other two) have got to suffer for the rest of their life and deal with it."
Police have urged anyone with information about the crash to contact them.
4°C