Videos show drivers doing illegal donuts, burnouts as crowds take over Philadelphia intersection
PHILADELPHIA - Another night of chaos plagued Philadelphia as large crowds brought potential danger to at least one neighborhood in what appears to be a common occurrence over the past several months.
Video submitted to FOX 29 shows several drivers performing illegal donuts and burnouts at the intersection of Cottman and Torresdale avenues in Northeast Philadelphia Saturday night.
Hundreds of people can be seen gathered at the intersection, watching as vehicles screeched dangerously close, performing donuts with people hanging out of the windows.
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Smoke from the vehicles' tires fill the air as sparklers were lit in the middle of the road shut down by the spectacle.
Philadelphia police are later seen responding to the disturbance as crowds start to disperse, however, authorities have to release any information related to the incident.
FOP Lodge #5 President John McNesby says illegal driving activity took place in three sections of the city Saturday night; Mayfair, Bustleton and Interstate 95, which was also the scene of a fatal shooting on the same night.
"Once again, our great city of Philadelphia was under siege by criminal activity involving illegal, street-racing," said FOP Lodge #5 President John McNesby. "Another weekend of Philadelphia and state police officers putting themselves in danger to curb this criminal behavior."
Mayor Jim Kenney condemned the incidents, calling them "dangerous" and "reckless."
"This type of reckless and aggressive behavior cannot and will not be tolerated. Dangerous actions like these put everyone in our city at risk, especially our officers who work hard to keep our residents safe. This is unacceptable."
This is the latest in a rash of illegal driving and large gatherings popping up across the city. In April, drag racers vandalized police cars in Fishtown and North Philadelphia during similar incidents.