Motorcycle Violence Strikes St. Louis Area

First posted on 11-05-2007

Drivers in the St. Louis are have been worried for several years as some motorcyclists have taken to zipping around traffic, standing on their bikes and popping wheelies, even on crowded highways.

Now, a new twist has developed as some cyclists may have turned from daredevil stunts to violence.

On October 28, an SUV driver near the Soulard area of St. Louis reported that dozens of motorcyclists surrounded her vehicle, and one cyclist threw a brick through her back window.

Earlier that same day, a man driving down I-270 in Maryland Heights phoned 911 for help when around 50 motorcycles sped by his car, some of the bikers kicking his vehicle as they went by.

A separate motorist verified the incident in her own 911 call as she watched the harassment. The woman asked the dispatcher, “Is somebody coming? They’re kicking this guy’s car.”

Police say they do not generally participate in high-speed chases for traffic violations and recommend drivers try getting a license plate number. They also said that the daredevil cyclists can be a dangerous annoyance, but have never shown violence in years past.

One well-known group in the St. Louis area, Streetfighterz, not only performs stunts on the road, they also film them and put together professional grade DVDs they distribute. While the group admits to performing stunts, it says none of its members kick cars or throw bricks.

James Vaughn, owner of the Streetfighterz team, said, “we’ve never intentionally ran anyone off the road or hit another car or kicked a window or threw a rock at anybody or done anything like that. ... Someone who did that would be an idiot.”

So far, no one has been charged in the two incidences of violence and police say it would be difficult to find the suspects.