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BOOM goes the Jetta! HOLLYWOOD off of Highland. #KCAL9 #CBSLA #stumundel pic.twitter.com/o03kSn35ry
— stu mundel (@Stu_Mundel) February 20, 2015
A suspected explosive device caused a traffic nightmare in Hollywood, closing streets already congested from Oscars preparation.
The threat turned out to be fake, but LAPD took no chances in the crowded tourist area and used a bomb squad robot to inspect the car. At one point, they blew the trunk open, making the loud 'boom' witnesses reported hearing. "The trunk blew open and liquid came out," a tourist told the L.A. Times. "There was no smoke or fire. It shattered the lower bumper." It made for a pretty cool photo, seen above.
LAPD pulled over a car for reckless driving at 11 a.m. at Highland Avenue and Yucca Street, and the driver stepped out carrying a propane tank and said he had explosives in his car. Police inspected the car in a strip mall parking lot at Highland Avenue and Yucca Street, right across the street from the complex where the Oscars will be held this Sunday.
LAPD bomb squad robot checking out suspicious car across from Loews Hollywood. #Oscars2015 @usatoday pic.twitter.com/LHDe3qVfWq
— Andrew P. Scott (@apscott) February 19, 2015
LAPD closed all sidewalks and streets in a three-block radius, making the drive through Hollywood even worse with Hollywood Boulevard already closed for the Oscars.
Traffic nightmare! Stay away from Hollywood/Franklin area. Bomb squad examining suspicious car. #OscarsCountdown
— Michelle Valles (@MichelleNBCLA) February 19, 2015
Do not drive through Hollywood right now. You will literally never get to your destination.
— @LAScanner (@LAScanner) February 19, 2015
The all-clear was given by the LAPD just before 4:15 p.m. and the roads have since been reopen.