Three people — Rickie Reyes Jr., 22, , Zsorhzinnia Tevaseu, 19, and Racquel Cassini, 21, died and three others were injured on October 17, 2009 in a San Francisco car accident during a weekly spectacle of reckless driving in East Oakland called “sideshows,” which local residents say are terrorizing their neighborhoods. According to a news article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Reyes, Tevaseu and Cassini were in a Nissan Altima that was speeding west on MacArthur Boulevard. The Altima veered toward oncoming traffic, slammed into a parked Toyota Corolla and overturned on the sidewalk near 100th Avenue, hitting a pedestrian. The pedestrian and two others in the Nissan were taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Tragic Consequence of Irresponsible Behavior
My heart goes out to the innocent pedestrian who was seriously injured in this horrific California car accident. I offer my condolences to the Reyes, Tevaseu and Cassini families that lost their loved ones in this senseless tragedy. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
This is a disturbing report. Sideshows have apparently been a ritual in Oakland and other San Francisco Bay Area cities for at least five years. Lately, they have gotten out of hand, local residents say. During these sideshows, cars weave and speed along thoroughfares, spinning doughnuts and screeching tires. Also, passengers often hang out of windows dancing. The Chronicle news report also points out another ritual during these sideshows known as “Ghost riding the whip” where a driver slows a car to about 10 mph, puts the transmission in neutral and jumps out of the car while it’s till moving with music blaring. The driver and the passengers then dance alongside the car or jump on the hood or roof and then return inside the vehicle.
Senseless Tragedies Must be Stopped
Another stunt they try to pull during these sideshows is known as the “hyphy train” where a line of cars weave and speed in unison. Apparently this particular crash in Oakland was in a “hyphy train.” Witnesses say a “hyphy train” looks like a conga line on wheels.
I cannot imagine living in one of these neighborhoods, wondering everyday whether my family and I will be safe driving, parking our cars or walking across the street! This is a ridiculous ritual where these young people have absolutely no regard for the safety and well-being of their own community members. I’m appalled that the city and law enforcement have not cracked down on what is clearly illegal and a violation of every law in the book. These sideshows must be stopped before more lives are lost tragically and unnecessarily. If you have been serious injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, please contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights and options.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.