A wild joyride ended with a giant Christmas tree lying on the ground. The crash happened in the town of Saryagash in southern Kazakhstan.
Video shows the entire incident. CCTV footage from the central square caught the driver in action. It was the early morning hours, and the square was mostly empty.
The driver was in a Russian-made Lada sedan. He sped into the square and began performing “donuts.” This is when a car spins in tight circles.
The driver tried to do a second spin. This time, the car swung out too wide. It went straight toward a huge, decorated Christmas tree.
The tree was about 40 feet tall. It was standing in the middle of the square. The car did not stop.
It slammed directly into the tree’s base. The impact was immediate. The towering tree crashed to the pavement.
Lights and decorations scattered everywhere. The festive display was flattened in seconds.
After the crash, the driver did not stop. He sped away from the scene. He left the broken tree lying in the square.
Police in Saryagash District received a report around 3 a.m. A witness said an unknown driver hit the main Christmas tree and fled.
Officers began an investigation. They carefully studied the CCTV recordings from the area. The video clearly showed the car and the crash.
“Officers carefully studied the recordings from the area using CCTV cameras,” police said. “As a result, the identity of the offender was established.”
Police confirmed the car was a VAZ-2105 model Lada. They used the footage to track down the driver.
The young man was found. His vehicle was taken by the police. It was impounded as part of the case.
Authorities issued him a fine for dangerous driving. But his punishment did not end there.
In an unusual order, police told him to fix what he broke. They ordered him to repair the damaged Christmas tree.
“The young driver repaired the damaged tree,” police stated. They also said he “promised not to commit similar offenses in the future.”
Witnesses described the scary moments before the crash. They said they heard the car’s tires screeching. The driver narrowly missed other street furniture and decorations while spinning.