Louisville police use monster truck to crush stolen car

Louisville police used a blue Hot Wheels monster truck named Rhinomite to crush a seized 2009 Dodge Charger Hellcat during a public event in Shawnee Park. The incident took place during the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire show on October 17 and 18, 2026, as a calculated message to deter illegal street racing.

Stolen car parts traced across multiple states

The Dodge Charger was seized in 2024 during a street takeover at Shawnee Park. A street takeover involves groups blocking streets or intersections to perform burnouts and donuts in traffic. The car was found to contain a 6.2-liter V8 supercharged Hellcat engine and over nine stolen components, including engine parts, seats, wheels, and brakes, traced from Detroit to Indianapolis.

Public destruction aimed at deterring illegal racing

Instead of scrapping the car, the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) chose to destroy it publicly during the monster truck show. The Charger was crushed by Rhinomite, a 12,000-pound monster truck, during the Saturday evening show at 6:30 pm. The event aimed to serve as a visible deterrent against illegal street racing.

Police emphasize consequences of street racing

Paul L. Humphrey, chief of the LMPD, emphasized that illegal street racing in Louisville has consequences. Detective Kyle Willis, who initiated the seizure, warned that such activities could lead to severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The LMPD has seized 167 vehicles linked to street racing since adopting local ordinance 154-2022.

Previous vehicle destruction part of anti-racing strategy

A Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat valued at around $100,000 was publicly destroyed in 2025 as part of the same strategy. This approach has contributed to a reported 40% decrease in illegal street racing in the city, according to police records.