‘It’s like Fast and Furious
Published: 13:31, 10 January 2024 | Updated: 14:45, 10 January 2024
Brazen drag racers were caught tearing down a busy city road in high-powered cars at ‘100mph’ in scenes that have terrified locals.
The shocking clip shows the reckless drivers speeding along a stretch of the A47 in Saltley, Birmingham[2], in the early hours of Sunday morning as other horrified motorists and rail workers watch on in fear.
It was recorded by a man working on the adjacent railway line, who claimed the dangerous scenes take place on most weekends but incidents are ‘getting worse’.
He added that the event ‘was very cleverly planned’, with people acting as look outs for police, and involved ’20 to 30 cars, SUVs, little sports cars’.
West Midlands Police confirmed that it had seen the shocking footage and was investigating the incident. The force added that illegal street racing causes ‘misery for residents’ and has even caused fatalities in the past.
One blue car here can be seen tearing down a busy city road at ‘100mph’ in scenes that have terrified locals
Another car, follows shortly after it, speeding along a stretch of the A47 in Saltley, Birmingham, in the early hours of Sunday morning
Two other cars were also caught taking part in the illegal street race which police said causes ‘misery for residents’
The rail worker told BirminghamLive[3]: ‘It was like Fast and Furious, just in Saltley.’
‘[Racing] typically starts at 1am. At 1am it just suddenly started.
There were upwards of 20 to 30 cars, SUVs, little sports cars.’
‘They were breaking 100mph. They had people stand at look out points. Two cars just stopped in the middle of the road so they could drag race.
A delivery driver got stuck.
‘If police had have turned up they could have trapped about 20 to 30 cars. The noise and the speed is incredible.
‘[This was a] huge number of people with disregard for law and order. This was very cleverly planned.
‘It’s getting worse.
That’s the worst that I have come across, usually the police will send someone around in 10 minutes.
I am sure there were terrified drivers.’
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of the footage and it’s being reviewed by officers from our Operation Hercules team.
‘We’re committed to tackling street cruising in the West Midlands, and injunctions are in place meaning that anyone breaching them are in contempt of court and can be jailed.
The video was recorded by a man working on the adjacent railway line, who claimed the dangerous scenes take place on most weekends but incidents are ‘getting worse’
He said the event ‘was very cleverly planned’ and involved ’20 to 30 cars, SUVs, little sports cars’
‘We carry out patrols and intelligence-led operations at hotspots, and work closely with partners on identifying, disrupting and enforcing against those taking part or observing illegal street racing.
‘Not only does it cause misery for residents, but it has sadly proved to have fatal consequences in the past.
‘We’d encourage anyone with information about street racing to get in touch with us via Live Chat or 101, or 999 if you think there’s an imminent risk to life.’
References
- ^ Dan Woodland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ BirminghamLive (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham (www.dailymail.co.uk)