A Moldovan taxi driver who rampaged through downtown Moscow on a Renault Megane, ramming a dozen cars and inciting a police car chase, told reporters that he was "flying on the wings of love."
Traffic cops attempted to stop the unidentified driver on Sunday after he ignored a "no entry" sign near Kievsky Station, but the man drove away, almost ramming a group of children boarding a bus, RIA-Novosti , citing a police spokesman.
A traffic patrol positioned its car in front of the children in time to save them, the spokesman added.
From there on, the incident developed into a Hollywood-style car chase, complete with driving through red lights and numerous crashes. In total, 17 cars were damaged, including four police vehicles.
Police eventually managed to stop the Renault by shooting its tires. The driver then stripped naked and jumped out of the vehicle, but was immediately apprehended and covered with a police coat.
The man said he was driving to his "beloved," but did not elaborate, Komsomolskaya Pravda . He is now facing up to 20 years in prison for hooliganism and attempted murder of a policeman.
Police could not say whether the man was drunk or mentally unstable. A bottle of "unidentified liquid" found in the taxi was sent for analysis.
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