Street takeovers have been a big problem in some places, leading to injuries, property damage, and a whole load of other issues. One strategy police have relied on to combat the takeovers is to post photos of seized vehicles on social media as a warning to others, but police in Louisville, Kentucky took things a step further. The department crushed a seized Dodge Durango Hellcat in a publicity stunt, with the town’s mayor pressing the crusher button to kick off the spectacle. The PR stunt was broadcast live on Facebook.
The Louisville police department said it nabbed the Durango during the 2024 Street Rod Nationals event. It was one of 167 seized vehicles the department has grabbed since it began heavier street racing enforcement in 2023.
Louisville PD via YouTube
The department released a statement saying, “This isn’t just about one car. It’s about protecting lives, restoring order, and showing that our city stands united against reckless behavior.” It also said the crushed Durango should “serve as a warning to those who think they can turn our streets into speedways.”
It might seem like a waste to crush such an expensive, desirable vehicle, which many critics pointed out, but the Louisville PD said there’s a good reason for the SUV being crushed whole instead of being parted out or sold. Police said the Durango was “found to contain multiple stolen parts, including its engine,” noting that it was unfit to be sold or repurposed as a police vehicle.
Louisville PD via YouTube
Whether the stunt is effective remains to be seen, but Louisville’s mayor said the city isn’t slowing down enforcement of street racing anytime soon. “I will not tolerate behavior that puts our people, our families, at risk.” He said that the city has seen a 40 percent reduction in street racing and promised that anyone brave enough to test the system will have their cars crushed, too.
About the author
Chris Teague
News Editor, Autoblog