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Tex. troopers seize Hellcat from street racers, use massive horsepower for good

The car was first spotted by a police aircraft when authorities noticed the Hellcat going 160 mph alongside another vehicle in a populated area

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Twitter/Twitter via Texas DPS

By Ashley Silver

HOUSTON — The Texas Highway Patrol has taken a different approach to fight street takeovers plaguing cities across the nation — meeting offenders where they are in the fast lane.

The Drive.com shared photos of the new 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, which was recently awarded to the Texas Highway Patrol by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office through civil forfeiture laws.

The car was originally discovered in 2021 when a Texas Department of Safety aircraft was assisting with a concerted departmental effort to crackdown on street racing and noticed the car speeding alongside another vehicle through densely populated areas.

With the Hellcat traveling at speeds reaching 160 mph, the DPS aircrafttracked the sports car until it ran out of fuel. The driver attempted to flee on foot but was later arrested and charged with felony evading and the unlawful carrying of a weapon after a handgun was located in the car.

According to The Drive.com, the car has 1,080 horsepower.

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