The signs of two-ton mischief paint the pavement all up and down
Mantelli Drive in Gilroy. At the intersection of Mantelli and
Rancho Hills, large black doughnut circles mar the road, evidence
residents say point to street racing.
The signs of two-ton mischief paint the pavement all up and down Mantelli Drive in Gilroy.
At the intersection of Mantelli and Rancho Hills, large black doughnut circles mar the road, evidence residents say point to street racing.
Shani Picazo lives on Mantelli Drive and said she frequently sees cars burning out in the intersection at Columbine.
“I see the headlights from my window at night,” she said. “It’s a matter of seconds. They come, do their doughnuts and they’re gone.”
She complained drivers often ignore the stop sign in front of her house on their way down the hill, treating Mantelli like a racetrack.
Although Gilroy Police have not issued citations, Sgt. Jim Gillio said the important thing for residents to do if they witness street racing is get as much information as possible.
“If we can get a vehicle description and license plate, we can actually go to the house,” he said.
Gillio said if residents are able to identify the driver, the police can begin a criminal investigation into the matter.
Eileen Medina of Rancho Hills Drive said some drivers are using Mantelli as their personal playground.
“When it rains, we can hear their tires spinning,” Medina said.
“The police have tried to patrol, but cars run the stop sign all the time.”
Officer Jaime Rios of the California Highway Patrol said they used to help Gilroy Police patrol the area, but had lost their funding.
Medina says the biggest problem is catching drivers in the act.
“We’ll hear the screeching of the tires and they’ll be gone,” she said. She said cars sped from the top of the hill down to Gilroy Seventh-Day Adventist Church at Calle Del Rey.
So far, there have been no reports of accidents according to police and CHP, but that doesn’t make Picazo feel any less easy.
“They drive so fast,” she said.
Residents can call the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0300 or the We Tip line at (800) 782-7463 if they wish to remain anonymous.
