Large motorcycle group doing burnouts, being filmed while holding up traffic leads to one arrest

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Several dozen motorcyclists were part of what appears to be a social media stunt Sunday between Zephyr Cove and Cave Rock at Lake Tahoe Sunday.

A group of bikers took over both westbound lanes of US50 on the north side of the Cave Rock Tunnel on September 19, 2021. They appeared to be taking part in burnouts with several onlookers. Several of the drivers prohibited from driving due to the event called the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO). The reports were for traffic hazards and blocking traffic.

A deputy who was on the way to Cave Rock at approximately 1:50 p.m. said he witnessed several small groups of motorcyclists who were westbound on US50, then as he approached Zephyr Cove he witnessed "50-75" motorcycles traveling westbound in the #1 lane (the fast lane) of traffic following a Ford Mustang convertible with its top down and two males inside. The passenger was sitting backwards with a camera, apparently filming the scene. The deputy said the Mustang was in the #2 lane, or slow lane, so no traffic was able to pass the group.

The DCSO deputy said the male passenger filming appeared to be unsecured and he witnessed the Mustang cross over the double white lines into the #1 lanes and then back fully into the #2 travel lane.

He said the driver "seemed distracted by the activity behind and around him." Due to the unsafe Due to safety issues with the obstruction of the flow of traffic and the passenger not being restrained, the deputy pulled them over and the motorcycles continued on as there was not enough law enforcement in the area for multiple traffic stops.

The driver and passenger of the Mustang first told DCSO they were just driving by and started filming because of the size of the motorcycle group. When the deputy said he didn't believe the story, the driver then said they were a part of the group and the ride had been set up on social media as a memorial ride. They apologized for driving unsafely and told the deputy they'd inform the social media group to drive responsibly for the rest of the day.

A check on their identification led to the California driver being arrested for driving on a suspended license and a failure to comply warrant issued out of East Fork Justice Court for Nevada Highway Patrol charges.