Dozens of cars gather in Toronto parking lot before allegedly racing on highways: police

Toronto police are investigating after dozens of vehicles reportedly gathered in a parking lot doing stunts before allegedly racing along nearby streets and highways.

Police say there were reports of between 80and 200 vehicles in a parking lot at the Queensway and the East Mall.Officersarrived on Saturday after 11 p.m.

The driverswere reportedly doing donuts and other stunts in what Const. Alex Lidescribes as being like a scene out of "Fast & Furious".

Const. Edward Parks says there were reports of people out of their cars and grouped together, which is a concern for spreading COVID-19. He said the drivers were part of a known stunt-driving groupin the city.

Li says that when officers got to the scene, the vehicles sped off and allegedly raced on different highways.

He says police were patrolling for the suspects, including Ontario Provincial Police, who have jurisdiction over the highways.

Police forces across Ontario have reported a spike in stunt driving incidents as roads have emptied due to the COVID-19 pandemic.