Vilnius mayor crushes car in wild tank ride for Swedish TV show
Published: 3 Aug 11 15:42 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/35336/20110803/
The mayor of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius has has been filmed driving an armoured vehicle over a parked car as both a prank for a Swedish TV show, and as a blunt warning to drivers to observe the city's regulations.
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The episode features Mayor Arturas Zuokas, who has been described as a "militant cyclist", riding in the tank together with Erik and Mackan towards a parked car.
The armoured vehicle is then driven over the car, crushing it in the process and drawing shock and consternation from its owner, who is a witness to the demise of vehicle from a nearby pavement.
"In my profession, you have to have a sense of humour," Zuokas explained to the camera.
The mayor continued to explained that a "tank was the best option" to solve the problem of luxury car owners who he argues consider themselves above the law.
"That's what happens when you park illegally," Zuokas declared after the Mercedes car was demolished.
The owner of the vehicle is then told by the mayor that "next time park your car legally", with the white-suited driver seemingly in sheepish agreement.
The film ends with the mayor sweeping away glass splinters from the road and cycling down the road on his bicycle.
The City of Vilnius official website currently features the film as a warning to all those tempted to take a chance and park their cars illegally.
The show is broadcast on Viasat owned TV6 and among the other antics deemed worthy of "doing before you die" have included featuring on a US chat show, getting close up and personal with great white sharks, and manning the controls of a helicopter.
The Local's attempts to contact TV6 and the show's production company OTW Media for a comment on Thursday were unsuccessful.
Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513
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I think it is "Cycling down the road on his bicycle"
Swedish tv just happened to be there and notified about the prank. Don't make it sound like a collaboration!
@ Grindsprint
I got my information from about 5-6 other media sources who say otherwise.
If they aren't even able to get the story right, then what's to say they aren't stretching the truth a little bit also?