ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Englewood Police Department said it’s noticed an increase in street racing and “speed exhibitions” in the city after local car shows or meet-ups. A new proposed code and administrative changes may create a deterrent.
The big windows at 5280 Furniture Direct give staff a front-row view of Santa Fe Drive.
“You could be here at like two in the afternoon, and then all of a sudden, it roars and you see just two cars going 100-120 miles per hour,” said Gilbert Garcia, the owner of the store.
The store sits right on the border of Denver and Englewood, two communities that have struggled to end street racing along Santa Fe Drive.
“Last year, in June, I was leaving the store. It was around 7, and at 7:15, I got a call, ‘Hey, get back to the store. Somebody hit the store,” Garcia recalls of the latest time a street racer lost control. “The previous owner from here also was driving down this street. Two racers were coming right behind him. He got scared, kind of tried to switch lanes right away, [and] ended up flipping his car right before Hampden.”