53 people arrested at Worcester illegal car show

They are announced on social media and held in large parking lots or remote areas. While no one was hurt at Friday night’s show, there were reports of gunshots, property damage, erratic driving, and disorderly groups at several dozen others.

“These types of dangerous gatherings put innocent members of our community at risk and will not be tolerated in the City of Worcester,” said Paul Saucier, the city’s interim police chief.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. police responded to reports of a large group of cars driving recklessly and speeding through Lincoln Plaza, a local shopping center. When they arrived the cars were gone, but the police interviewed witnesses and saw skid markets and tire tracks across the parking lot.

Less than an hour later, they learned about a large gathering of vehicles at a parking lot on New Bond Street. The cars sped off when the police arrived, but officers were able to record some of their license plates.

Officers discovered that the cars went to Southwest Cutoff because a group known for arranging illegal car shows posted the location online. Police found 30 vehicles gathered behind the building when they reached the scene.

The police said in the statement that they could hear loud music and revving engines. They recognized some of the vehicles from the car show earlier that night.

Illegal car shows, drag races, and street “takeovers” have occurred across the country in recent years. Drivers show off their vehicles, perform donuts and other tricks.

But they sometimes have deadly consequences. In 2022 in California, a driver performing in front of a crowd of more than 100 people hit and killed a 24-year-old nursing student. In 2023, a pedestrian was killed at a Philadelphia drag race. That same year, a 30-year-old man was killed in a crash during another drag race in Connecticut.

In Boston this past April more than 40 vehicles blocked off parts of Marlborough Street in Back Bay for an early morning drag race. After the incident, Mayor Michelle Wu told reporters at City Hall Plaza that the streets were public spaces that needed to be kept safe for everyone.