According to Los Angeles police, more than 50 cars were involved in a street takeover in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning, some of which went up in flames.
One video shows a car completely engulfed in flames, parked in the middle of an intersection, with a thick cloud of black smoke rising from the vehicle. Other cars can be seen trying to drive around the inferno.
According to the LAPD, several vehicles were seized after authorities arrived near East 18th Street and Main Street, where participants intentionally set two of the cars on fire.
At around 3 a.m., firefighters received a call about a car fire and dispatched two fire trucks and LAPD officers to the scene to investigate, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
According to police, no one was arrested.
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon said the incident was unacceptable.
“It makes me angry because it puts other people in danger,” de Leon said.
This is just another reason why the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and LAPD joined forces to form a task force to deal with the takeovers. De Leon says even more funding will be allocated to the task force next month.
“We have actually reduced the number of street takeovers in LA, particularly in Downtown Los Angeles,” he said. “But even so, it hasn’t completely stopped.”
Authorities have not released any further details.
