In a dramatic and reckless display of late-night driving, a joyride in southern Kazakhstan ended with a bang when a driver crashed into a massive Christmas tree, toppling it over.
Security cameras captured the incident as the driver raced into Saryagash’s central square during the early hours, skillfully maneuvering a Russian-made Lada sedan to perform tight donuts on the nearly deserted plaza.
The daring stunts soon took a disastrous turn. As the driver attempted a second spin, the car veered off course, heading straight for the towering 40-foot Christmas tree at the square’s heart.
With little time to react, the vehicle plowed into the festive tree, which came crashing down in a shower of lights and ornaments scattered across the pavement. The once-vibrant holiday display was left flattened in the aftermath.
CCTV footage captured the entire sequence, showing the driver fleeing the scene immediately after the collision, leaving behind the fallen tree as a stark reminder of the night’s chaos.
The driver sped away, leaving the toppled tree lying flat in the square.
According to The Sun, witnesses said the vehicle’s tires screeched as the driver circled the square, narrowly missing street furniture and festive decorations in the moments leading up to the crash.
CCTV captured a reckless late-night joyride spiraling out of control as a driver crashed into a towering Christmas tree in a Kazakhstan town square before fleeing. (East2West)
The Sun also reported that Saryagash District Police said in a statement they received a report around 3 a.m. that an unknown driver had crashed into the main Christmas tree installed in the central square and then fled.
“Officers carefully studied the recordings from the area using CCTV cameras,” police said in the statement. “As a result, the identity of the offender was established.”
CCTV captured a reckless late night joyride spiraling out of control as a driver crashed into a towering Christmas tree in a Kazakhstan town square before fleeing. (East2West)
Police later confirmed the driver was behind the wheel of a VAZ-2105 Lada.
Investigators tracked him down after reviewing the surveillance footage, and his vehicle was subsequently impounded, according to the report.
CCTV captured a reckless late night joyride as a driver crashed into a towering Christmas tree in a Kazakhstan town square before fleeing. (East2West)
Authorities said the driver was issued a fine for dangerous driving. In an unusual outcome, police also ordered him to repair the damage he caused to the holiday display.
“The young driver repaired the damaged tree and promised not to commit similar offenses in the future,” police said.
