MASPETH, Queens (WABC) — Nearly 100 cars took over a Queens intersection early Saturday, blocking traffic and performing dangerous stunts around a fire lit in the roadway, police said.<\/p>\n
The illegal gathering unfolded shortly before 1:45 a.m. at 69th Street and Elliott Avenue in Maspeth, near a gas station. Video and eyewitness accounts described drivers doing donuts as spectators watched.<\/p>\n
Police said officers were on the scene within a minute to break up what they described as a disorderly and dangerous situation. The crowd dispersed, but not before three people jumped on the hood of a marked NYPD cruiser and cracked its windshield, authorities said.<\/p>\n
New York City Council member Phil Wong, who represents the area, said he was upset Saturday.<\/p>\n
“This kind of reckless behavior is an attack on our quality of life, and it cannot be tolerated. I’ve asked for a full debrief from the precinct and will meet with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch next week to ensure accountability and that we take concrete steps to prevent this from happening again. These takeovers and the ongoing late-night car meetups blasting music are exactly the kind of chaos my office is working to stop,” Wong said.<\/p>\n
“We heard screeching and reeching. I actually woke us up. And then we ran to the side window and just continuously, just like you smell like the rubber. It was pure automotive em. They were set up like just waiting to take the turn in and out of the gas station,” an eyewitness said.<\/p>\n
Another resident criticized the location of the activity, saying, “And that, which I think is insane by a gas station. That’s so, you know, idiot to do that.”<\/p>\n
Police said detectives spent much of Saturday looking for clues to identify those involved, visiting homes and businesses to review surveillance footage. Community members expressed concern about the risk posed by the gathering.<\/p>\n
“Somebody could hit the shop. They could have crashed into the gas stations,” one resident said.<\/p>\n
Wong said his office was flooded with calls after the incident and that he has been in touch with the NYPD.<\/p>\n
“From what I heard, they ran through some plates, and they are fake plates. So they came prepared. They are not occasional meet-ups. They are planned,” Wong said.<\/p>\n
He said similar car takeovers have targeted other parts of Queens and that officials are exploring ways to prevent them, including possible street design changes.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to work with D.O.T. to see how we put them in. We already have some speed bumps in the district, but not designed for these meet-ups,” Wong said.<\/p>\n
Residents said they want swift accountability.<\/p>\n
“This is craziness. This is where people live. This is an attack on our city,” one person said. “Track down the people. Figure out where they are, tow their car, suspend their license.”<\/p>\n
Authorities said a summons was issued to one driver who reportedly blocked a crosswalk. No injuries were reported, and the investigation remains ongoing.<\/p>\n
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