A sleepy New York neighborhood was plunged into chaos after more than 100 cars swarmed its streets in the early hours of Saturday.
Frantic locals in Maspeth and Middle Village called 911 to report drag racing which had taken over its communities.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 1.49am to Eliot Avenue and 69th Street and arrived within one minute, activating lights and sirens as they began dispersing the gathering, the New York Police Department (NYPD) told the Daily Mail.
However, three unidentified individuals jumped onto the hood of a marked police vehicle and cracked its windshield before fleeing in another car.
Additional units were sent to canvass surrounding streets to deter further reckless driving and one motorist was issued a summons for blocking a crosswalk.
No injuries were reported and the investigation remains ongoing.
The chaos unfolded near the Maspeth–Middle Village border, where drivers had taken over the intersection, spinning in circles, revving engines and sending smoke into crowds gathered just feet away.
Videos from the scene show spectators lining the roadway as cars performed donuts and burnouts, with some people stepping back at the last moment to avoid oncoming vehicles.
More than 100 cars took over a Queens intersection around 1.50am Saturday, performing dangerous stunts as crowds watched from just feet away
Police responded within one minute to reports of drag racing and quickly dispersed the gathering, but three people jumped on a patrol car and cracked its windshield before fleeing
Flames briefly appeared on the street during one stunt while another clip shows a man holding a Palestinian flag out of the window of a truck as it spun through the intersection.
At least one driver was issued a citation for reckless driving, according to local officials.
Councilman Phil Wong, who represents the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village and Maspeth, has called for stronger action to prevent similar gatherings.
‘This kind of reckless behavior is an attack on our quality of life, and it cannot be tolerated,’ Wong told the New York Post.
A representative for Wong also wondered how such a large number of vehicles were able to gather in a residential neighborhood without detection, raising concerns about enforcement and intelligence.
‘I have to question what the NYPD intel is doing. How do 100 cars come to a sleepy neighborhood like Middle Village? The chaos needs to end,’ they said.
The councilman has requested a meeting with Jessica Tisch to discuss next steps and potential measures to address the issue.
Councilman Phil Wong, who represents the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village and Maspeth, has called for stronger action to prevent similar gatherings
Videos from the scene show spectators lining the roadway as cars performed donuts and burnouts, with some people stepping back at the last moment to avoid oncoming vehicles
Most vehicles fled, but three individuals jumped on a police car, cracking its windshield before fleeing
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about so-called car takeovers, where drivers block intersections to perform stunts, often drawing large crowds and creating hazardous conditions for bystanders.
Authorities are continuing to review footage and gather information as the investigation progresses.
The illegal ‘street takeover’ trend began in California and has since been spreading across the nation, involving large groups who meet at a designated location late at night to perform dangerous stunts in their cars.
Often footage of the dangerous moves goes viral on social media sites like TikTok and Instagram.
