An illegal takeover of a street in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning left two vehicles engulfed in flames.
Police were called to the intersection of West 18th and Main streets near the 10 Freeway at 2:49 a.m. and found “over 50 cars,” LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman said.
Two sedans were on fire as a stream of traffic surrounded them, according to a video from OnSceneTV. According to KTLA, there were hundreds of onlookers present.
Firefighters extinguished the fire and towed the vehicles away. There were no injuries or arrests.
Street takeovers, also known as sideshows, in which souped-up cars spin through intersections, burning tires, to the delight of fans, are under increasing scrutiny in Los Angeles. Hundreds occur each year, and some result in deadly crashes and shootings. The City Council launched a pilot program earlier this year to combat illegal takeovers by installing reinforced center lines at certain intersections to deter stunts.
Although the pilot program included several downtown intersections, the location of Saturday's fire was not one of them.
Two cars caught fire during a street standoff at the intersection of West 18th and Main streets near the 10 Freeway.
(ON SCENE.TV)
