Social Media Video Of Bay Bridge Sideshow Leads To Arrest
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A driver was arrested for allegedly taking part in a sideshow that blocked traffic on the Bay Bridge Sunday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.
Before the incident, the CHP received multiple calls of cars engaged in sideshow activity in the Oakland area.
Vehicles were seen stopping traffic on the bridge west of Treasure Island heading into San Francisco, according to a video shot by a passerby around 10:45 a.m. that was posted on social media.
A group of 10 to 15 souped-up Ford Mustangs took up all the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge to drive in circles, according to CHP.
Multiple CHP units responded to the incident.
"They were doing donuts on the freeway," said Officer Vu Williams with the San Francisco CHP office.
One of them eventually crashed, slightly injuring the driver.
"And that driver was arrested for reckless driving as well as exhibition of speed," said Williams..
The driver was taken into custody on suspicion of reckless driving and exhibition of speed. His vehicle, a white Mustang , will be impounded for 30 days, the CHP said.
Officers cited drivers of other cars that were stopped for mechanical violations and one vehicle was impounded because the driver was determined to be unlicensed.
In a Facebook post, the CHP thanked members of the public for reporting the alleged crimes and providing them with video evidence.
The Bay Bridge incident was just one of a number of sideshows that happened in San Francisco and Oakland. Videos posted on Snapchat, Instagram and all across social media were posted by spectators throughout the day.
In some of the clips, cars performed stunts side by side. In others, daredevils dangled themselves out of the car doors during stunts.
Circular marks left by tires burning rubber into the pavement were visible at 106th and MacArthur in Oakland. Witnesses told KPIX there were more than 20 cars involved in the sideshow at the intersection earlier Sunday.
The police broke this one up as well.
While proponents of sideshows claim participants are just having fun on a Sunday, the CHP's Williams disagreed.
Well, I'd say that's selfish. The reason being that while you're having fun, you also would be endangering thousands of other people who are just trying to get to where they're going, said Williams. You know, we've seen crashes come out of this. We've also seen in the past bystanders killed from being struck by vehicles. So you just never know what could happen.
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