Risking life and limb for social media fame: Street racers in Orange County gamble with their own mortality

Street racing and intersection takeovers in Los Angeles have become a major problem. According to LAPD commanders, these activities are predominantly driven by people seeking online fame through dangerous stunts and reckless driving.

In a recent Police Commission meeting, Deputy Chief Donald Graham, who oversees LAPD’s traffic divisions, shared that street racing and sideshows differ in various neighborhoods across the city. On the Westside and central L.A., racers move from one location to another, looking for iconic backdrops, such as beaches or the Hollywood sign, to film themselves in front of. In the San Fernando Valley, where the streets are wide and follow a grid pattern, racers seek out suitable boulevards for impromptu racetracks.

However, regardless of the location, the underlying motivation is the same: social media fame and money.

“My honest belief is that the popularity of street takeovers is due to the monetization on social media,” stated Graham. “Individuals are not just enjoying the moment; they are live-streaming themselves hanging out of cars while engaging in reckless and dangerous behavior. The more dangerous the footage, the more followers they gain on social media.”

Between 2020 and 2022, the LAPD responded to 19,506 service calls related to street racing incidents throughout the city. Interestingly, in areas where street takeovers have sparked complaints about noise and traffic disruptions, the prevalence of racing activities has actually declined. In the San Fernando Valley, street racing calls increased by 13% in 2020 but dropped by over 30% in 2021 and more than 50% last year. Similar declines were observed on the Westside.

However, in other regions, street racing incidents have seen a consistent increase year after year. Central and south L.A. have experienced double-digit growth in street racing calls.

Traffic Detective Ryan Moreno disclosed that during the period under review, at least 16 individuals lost their lives due to street racing incidents. The number of injuries was not specified, but Moreno expressed concern that many deaths and serious injuries go unreported to law enforcement.

Despite the risks involved, the street racers responsible for the most extreme behavior on L.A.’s roads are not attempting to conceal their activities — they are actively broadcasting them on social media to maximize their chances of financial gain and fame. Moreno highlighted that videos he has seen depict apparent life-threatening crashes that never made it to official reports.

“We witness incidents where people have suffered broken legs, been flipped by cars, or even run over,” said Moreno. “However, these incidents often go unreported, while we receive numerous videos every weekend.”

In response to a series of dangerous street racing events, including a fatal incident during a Hyde Park street takeover on Christmas Day, the L.A. City Council requested that the LAPD investigate the situation. Moreno noted that this case revealed a new dynamic: while some racers are experienced drivers, others are young individuals with limited skills but a desire for recognition.

During the Hyde Park takeover, Dante Chapple Young, a 28-year-old from Orange County, was performing a donut in an intersection when two other drivers appeared and started spinning out as well. In an attempt to avoid a collision, Young lost control, clipped a tow truck, and spun into a crowd where 24-year-old Elyzza Guajaca was standing. Guajaca tragically lost her life. Young was eventually apprehended in New Mexico after an extensive manhunt, and he now faces murder charges from the L.A. County District Attorney’s office.

Authorities are still searching for other individuals involved in the Hyde Park takeover.

“These younger guys often perform stunts as a way to enhance their street credibility,” Moreno explained. “In this instance, things went horribly wrong.”