MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Street racers flip over, shoot fireworks at car in the University District

Apr 11, 2021, 8:05 AM

Street racers...

Street racers seen in exclusive footage from KIRO 7 TV, overturning a vehicle in Seattle. (KIRO 7 TV)

(KIRO 7 TV)

SEATTLE — KIRO 7 obtained astonishing video showing the moment street racers turned against one of their fellow drivers and flipped his car in the middle of an intersection.

The incident happened Friday, April 9, at 47th Street and 11th Avenue in the University District.

With the car successfully overturned, spectators then decided it was time to celebrate with fireworks. Video shows a person shooting fireworks directly at the vehicle, causing a minor explosion in the intersection.

It was a crazy, chaotic spectacle that happened right below Kylee Hoffman’s apartment.

“I truly haven’t seen anything like it in my entire life,” she told KIRO 7. “I truly could not believe my eyes.”

According to Hoffman’s footage, street racers went as far as to use a giant Ford Bronco to pummel the car through the street.

She said the man who drove the car escaped unhurt only a few seconds before spectators flipped his vehicle.

Hoffman added that it appeared he was one of the racers himself but that he fell out of favor with his fellow speeders.

Proposed ordinance in Tacoma targets illegal street racing

“All of a sudden, one of the main people in the intersection yelled, ‘Rat… there’s a rat!’” she said.

It’s far from the first time Hoffman has witnessed “the need for speed” from her apartment.

She told KIRO 7 this marked the third time in a month that street racers darted through her neighborhood.

“They should probably choose a location that is not home to about a few thousand students within a few blocks of the area,” she commented.

Seattle Police confirmed that they’d handled three reports of street racing and stunt shows along Hoffman’s block.

In an exclusive interview with KIRO 7, Hoffman said she believed officers needed to do a better job of enforcement against street racers.

Otherwise, she said she worried that one of the street racers would be on the “fast track” to tragedy.

“Sometimes I feel like I might have to have evidence of someone dying sent to the news,” she noted.

Seattle Police said they’ve made no arrests in any of the street racing cases that have happened in the University District.

They added that nobody has been seriously hurt in any of the incidents.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

7 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

11 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

12 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

14 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

14 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

16 hours ago

Street racers flip over, shoot fireworks at car in the University District