LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Cell phone video shows cars doing burnouts in the street near Iroquois Park early Sunday morning. The chaos brought traffic to a halt.

A massive circle was left at the intersection of New Cut Road and Kenwood Drive Sunday afternoon.

The loud noise and smoke caught Brian Smith's attention.

"At first I thought it was a car accident but then, it kept going and going," he said.

The seemingly endless circles kept Smith from going home after work.

"There were cars blocking all lanes of traffic," he said. "There was no way through the intersections."

In Smith's video, a Louisville Metro Police officer got surrounded while trying to break the event up, just before 1 a.m. Sunday.

"It was very, very frightening," Smith said.

New Cut Road Burnout Video

People sitting on top of an LMPD vehicle on Sept. 1, 2024. (Submitted)

People started climbing onto the front of the car so the officer threw the car in reverse.

"They were making very rude gestures," Smith said. "It was insane."

Smith said the moments leading up to him calling 911 were just as insane.

"I was really afraid that somebody was going to get wiped out because they were drifting and the kids were all around the perimeter," Smith said. "It could have been really, really nasty."

Teens, young adults and others walked into the intersection to film the spinning up close.

"I would like to thank the police for showing up as they did," Smith said. "They arrived in full force."

Smith said police cleared the event out in about two to three minutes.

LMPD provided a statement to WDRB saying in part, "We are aware of the incidents of ‘street racing’ which took place last night across our city at a few locations. This is unacceptable."

Mayor Craig Greenberg also echoed what LMPD said.

"That type of activity is totally unacceptable," Greenberg said. "We will continue to monitor social media and continue to be out in force. We are going to make sure that we hold those accountable."

Smith is worried about it happening again.

"I would like to see the traffic unit in Louisville be a little more aggressive," he said.

The full statement from LMPD can be read below:

“We are aware of the incidents of ‘street racing’ which took place last night across our city at a few locations. This is unacceptable. This type of behavior presents a danger to the community, those involved in the activity, and our officers. LMPD cannot and will not tolerate this activity. Our officers are the backbone of public safety and have full support to take enforcement action when appropriate and safe.

LMPD is committed to focusing on the deterrence of these street activities with a heavy emphasis on enforcement. This enforcement includes the confiscation of vehicles, and the arrest and charging of people who are deliberately and/or wantonly engaging in activity which places others or themselves at risk of bodily harm. Our sincere hope is those who are contemplating such activity make the adult choice to find a more safe and legal form of entertainment. If you are a person who is considering participating in these events, please know: you are responsible for the harm it causes, and we will make every effort to ensure you are held accountable.

On May 9, 2023, the “Vehicle Speed Contests and Reckless Driving Exhibitions” Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances (LMCO) was revised. The revisions are intended to use impoundment more effectively by focusing on the seizure of the vehicle, rather than fines, as a deterrent. Prior to the revisions, a vehicle could only be seized if it was used in a speed contest or a reckless driving exhibition (LMCO §71.20). The revisions allow for the seizure of vehicles being used as a barricade or obstruction for the purpose of facilitating speed contests or reckless driving exhibitions (LMCO §71.22).

The revisions also changed the language in both §71.20 and §71.22 from “a person shall not” to “No vehicle shall be used,” shifting the focus of enforcement from the operator/owner of the vehicle to the vehicle itself. This change has impacted how citations are issued, as the citation will be issued to the vehicle with notice being given to the owner of the car.

Since this ordinance change, LMPD has seized 63 vehicles along with issuing numerous citations and making multiple arrests. LMPD takes this very seriously and will commit the resources necessary for effective enforcement.” - Chief Paul Humphrey

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