Tires screech as smoke fills the air, while people cluster around an empty intersection. Cars spin in circles, leaving black marks on the pavement. Moments later, blue and red lights flash at the edge of the street, sending the crowd scattering. Street takeovers — illegal events where drivers perform stunts until police intervene — mix adrenaline with danger for both drivers and onlookers.

Takeovers typically happen late at night, often between midnight and 3 a.m. Police sometimes arrive before the stunts begin, but not always. These events pop up across Chicago, including one documented here in Calumet City, near the Indiana border.

At the takeover on the night of Sept. 13, the action began quickly. A white car kicks off the takeover with a series of burnouts, nearly colliding with another vehicle. Thick smoke blankets the intersection as the crowd surges forward. Collisions at takeovers are prevalent, with people or with objects.

(Photo by Brian Cielo)

Fire erupts, igniting adrenaline in the crowd as the car spins. Smoke from burning rubber fills the air while flames grow, drawing spectators closer despite the danger– which for many teenagers and young adults-is part of the fun. 

With dozens pressed near the fiery ring, a car skids by just inches away. Phones rise high to capture the chaos as a Mexican flag waves above the scene.

“Some driver crashed into a kid, it was crazy,” senior Fabian Espinoza said when asked about the most dangerous thing that has happened at a takeover.

Right beside the spinning cars, a viewer steadies her camera to capture the next round of donuts. Surrounded by flashing lights and noise, she braces for another eruption in the street.

As the night goes on, the risks mount. At one point, a car veers toward a crowd standing in the middle of the road.

“It doesn’t take much to lose control of a car. Someone can do a donut and wipe out a dozen people in seconds,” West Chicago Police Officer and School Resource Officer Mike Levato said.

A firetruck’s siren cuts through the noise, but the stunts continue. Tires spin as emergency lights flash in the distance, creating a mix of confusion and anticipation. Many takeovers cause injuries and sometimes even fatalities.

Seconds before the police arrive, the crowd scatters. One last car barrels through the intersection, its V8 engine rumbling as a passenger leans out the window, shouting commands. As the crowd fades away into the distance, officers are already on scene, trying to shut down the takeovers.

Correction

Nov. 8, 2025

The article was revised to reflect the correct spelling of Fabian Espinoza’s name, which was previously listed as Fabien.