“Cleveland’s I-90 Chaos: Party Bus Driver Faces Violent Masked Mob”
In a shocking incident on Interstate 90, drivers faced terrifying scenes as a masked mob took over the highway, leaving many feeling unsafe during nighttime hours in Cleveland.
Tim Beck, a party bus driver for PST LLC, was transporting passengers home from a night out when he encountered the takeover at 4 a.m. Sunday. He described the chaos: “I had 12 passengers panicking,” he recalled. Beck found himself surrounded by a mob of around 100 people who were performing donuts and igniting fires on the highway. He said, “Within a few minutes, we had people hanging on the windshield and side mirror.”
Beck’s route was blocked by orange barrels, and he immediately called 911. However, it took six minutes for the line to connect, leaving him and his passengers vulnerable to the mob banging on their windows. It wasn’t until about 30 minutes later that he finally spotted police lights. In a desperate move, Beck drove through the orange barrels to escape.
Similar chaos erupted on the East Side, where University Circle police faced taunting from the crowd at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and E. 105 Street. Chief Thomas Wetzel remarked on the disturbing attitude displayed by the participants, stating, “These are felony crimes.” One police sergeant was reportedly hit in the face by airsoft BBs during the unrest, highlighting the dangers officers faced while trying to manage the situation.
Cleveland police had been alerted to the street takeovers and the accompanying criminal behavior, including reckless driving and endangerment to bystanders. Just last week, a teenager was shot at another car meet, underscoring the rising violence. Citizens, including Charlie Anderson, reported witnessing burnouts and reckless driving in Ohio City without immediate police intervention. “It was going on for 10-15 minutes, and we were wondering where the police were,” Anderson said.
Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd emphasized that addressing these incidents is a priority for her department. While she praised the officers’ response during the weekend’s chaos, she provided little information regarding arrests or follow-up actions.
Cleveland City Council Safety Chair Mike Polensek expressed concern over public safety, stating, “The people are scared to come into the city.” He has called for clarity on arrests and a comprehensive plan to handle future disturbances. The owner of PST LLC, Joe Zkiab, also voiced worries about the impact of such incidents on local businesses: “All this is doing is scaring people away, and businesses are going to go down.”
As a response to the rising danger of street takeovers, state lawmakers passed a bill this summer to increase penalties for participants, which will take effect next month. Cleveland police have announced a city-wide investigation and are working to gather evidence, including photos of the events, which they promise to release soon.
