Over the weekend, a frightening live-action GTA-style scene unfolded at the National Mall in Washington DC, leaving pedestrians alarmed. A man driving a black Jeep was seen speeding down the walkway despite numerous people being on the path.
Video footage shared on Reddit displayed the black Jeep veering off the road onto the grassy lawn. The vehicle recklessly sped across the grass before hitting the gravel walkway, kicking up a cloud of dust behind it.
Pedestrians stood nearby, watching the driver’s reckless maneuvers. Although the man was creating chaos, police vehicles were visible in the area, signaling that law enforcement was actively responding to the situation.
The video cuts off suddenly, but the accompanying caption relayed a witness’s account of events. The onlooker shared that this was their first experience witnessing such a bizarre road race. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the police intervention prompted a reaction from the driver.
“I didn’t see the car enter the mall, but once U.S Park Police started boxing him in, the driver yelled, ‘I got plenty of gas!’ and began making laps until he finally escaped down 7th Ave SW,” the witness reported.
Closing the caption, the witness noted it was uncertain exactly how far the driver fled given the road closures and strong police presence due to the ongoing National Capital Barbecue Battle event.
The video quickly went viral, capturing the attention of social media users who were baffled by the driver’s erratic behavior. Another eyewitness commented on the scene, describing how people scrambled for cover.
“At first, we all thought it was a cop, but then he started driving like a madman, and we began running and screaming. I hid behind a tree. There was a family beside me, including a disabled woman who was crying and moving very slowly.”
The witness added, “For a moment, I genuinely feared for my life—that this man might kill himself by harming others. Luckily, he seemed not to want to hurt anyone, but the police were slow to arrive, and the chase was chaotic.”
Social media users had mixed reactions: some condemned the reckless driver, while others responded with humor. One user bluntly commented, “Yikes. What a nut job.” Another compared the event to a scene from a video game, calling it “GTA VI: The District.” A different commenter joked, “He’s just trying to get back to the office from Happy Hour.”
The driver has since been arrested, though the specific charges remain unknown. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.