A Maryland man was accused of reckless driving and going 145 km / h in a 56 km / h zone after drivers stopped traffic on the Capital Beltway on Saturday so that a driver could make donuts in the middle of the highway.
Jonathan C. Iraheta, 20, of Beltsville, was charged with six traffic citations and fined more than $ 1,800, Maryland State Police said on Monday.
A line of cars stopped all traffic on the External Ring Road Circuit for several minutes on Saturday, around 7 pm, showing footage from a traffic camera detected by the WTOP.
The driver of a sports car made donuts repeatedly while several people on foot watched and even approached the car. Other drivers turned their rear wheels, sending smoke down the highway as a long line of drivers waited to start.
State police received several calls on Saturday night reporting “drivers in high-performance vehicles blocking the road and turning,” the police said in a statement.
A police officer was immediately dispatched to the scene and other law enforcement agencies were called in to help, the police said.
When the officer responded, Prince George County Police received a call informing them that the group was on Route 212. The officer moved to that location and saw an orange 2020 Dodge Charger “being recklessly operated on the west route. 212 on I-95. ”
The policeman stopped the driver, Iraheta, and issued quotes for: traveling 90 mph in an area posted at 35 mph, reckless driving, reckless driving, aggressive driving, following too close and unsafe lane changes.
The policeman found that a temporary tag on the car “apparently was altered in an attempt to hide the actual numbers on the tag.” State police seized the vehicle while waiting for the investigation.
The police said they could not confirm whether Iraheta was the driver making donuts on the Beltway; he was charged with crimes on Route 212, not there, said a spokesman.
It was not clear whether Iraheta had a lawyer.
The Maryland State Police said a crackdown on speeding and reckless driving is underway. Hundreds of citations were issued. The police department hit dangerous drivers.
“Obviously, the driving behavior witnessed at Capital Beltway and Rt. 212 yesterday is illegal, dangerous and a total disregard for the safety and convenience of others on the road. The Maryland State Police will continue to take immediate and strict enforcement measures, whenever possible, when these incidents occur, ”said the police.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.