AUSTIN — The City of Austin has arrested at least one man in response to multiple “street takeovers.”
On Saturday, between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to four street takeover incidents at the following locations:
- Payton Gin and Ohlen roads
- The 9900 block of South Interstate 35
- The 400 block of Center Ridge Drive
- Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard
In the first incident, Austin police reported almost 50 cars full of teenagers doing doughnut burnouts on Payton Gin and Ohlen roads in north Austin. However, DPS reports indicate that around 100 vehicles were present at the incident.
Additionally, DPS says the incident led to a wreck as the driver of a white Mustang with its headlights off traveled at high speeds in an attempt to evade a DPS trooper. As the driver maneuvered through traffic at dangerous speeds, the Mustang crashed into a Toyota Camry.
Austin-Travis County EMS reported three injured after the accident, including the driver of the white Mustang.
Although DPS did not release details on how many arrests they made in connection to these street takeover incidents, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that “dangerous street takeovers will not be tolerated in Texas.”
Dangerous street takeovers will NOT be tolerated in Texas.
Great work by Texas DPS and Austin Police to crack down on these incidents in our capital city.
New laws I signed this year will increase penalties for illegal street racing.https://t.co/jxSSIxJX3k
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 1, 2023
Notably, Austin city officials announced last month that Austin would end its partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, which has been assisting Austin PD due to staffing shortages.
However, Abbott responded that the DPS’ jurisdiction covers “every square inch of Texas.”
Despite DPS’ assistance, APD currently has more than 300 vacant positions.
