A Wisconsin police department is looking to identify the driver of a very distinctive Corvette, but judging by the internet’s reaction, they may have an easier time finding Tow Mater.
The De Pere Police Department, located just south of Green Bay, recently asked for the public’s help identifying the driver of a red Corvette wrapped to resemble Lightning McQueen, the famous race car from Disney and Pixar’s Cars franchise.
What exactly happened remains unclear. The department’s post simply states that officers are looking to identify and speak with the driver of the vehicle after it was seen in the area of South Erie Street, Virginia Drive, and Bomier Street around 8:49 p.m. on May 24.
Beyond that, police have not publicly released additional details about why they want to speak with the driver. As a result, the comments quickly turned into one giant Cars-themed comedy show, with Facebook users overwhelmingly choosing to protect Lightning McQueen rather than help identify him.
Police Are Looking for a Very Distinctive Corvette
According to the De Pere Police Department, the vehicle is a red Corvette featuring Lightning McQueen-themed graphics, including the iconic No. 95 on the doors and rear of the car. Police described it as a two-door Corvette with what appeared to be a black soft top, a yellow lightning bolt-style stripe, and additional decals near the front of the vehicle. The department asked anyone who knows the owner, or the owner themselves, to contact Officer C. Macrander regarding the investigation.
For obvious reasons, a Corvette wrapped to look like one of the most recognizable animated race cars ever created tends to stand out in traffic. That may explain why the comments section immediately filled with people claiming they had spotted Lightning McQueen everywhere from local gas stations to Radiator Springs.
The Internet Immediately Chose Chaos
Many commenters made it clear they had no intention of helping police identify Lightning McQueen. One of the most-liked comments declared, “I think we’re all okay being honest and saying we aren’t snitching on Lightning McQueen.”
Others responded with lines that sounded straight out of the movie franchise. One person claimed to have seen him heading west on Route 66. Another said they heard him yell “Ka-chow!” before tearing out of town. A third insisted he was probably on his way to Radiator Springs.
Several commenters joked that police should simply question Sally, Tow Mater, Mack, or the residents of Radiator Springs if they wanted answers. Another commenter claimed they had already spoken with the suspect, writing, “I just talked with the driver on the phone, he said ‘I am speed,’ then yelled KACHOW and hung up on me.”
Not Everyone Is Convinced a Crime Even Happened
Part of the reason the comments became so entertaining is that the police never publicly explained why they wanted to speak with the driver. That led some people to speculate that officers simply wanted photos with the car or hoped to recruit it for a community event.
Others suggested there may have been reckless driving involved, while a few commenters cited rumors of a possible hit-and-run. However, it’s important to note that those claims came from Facebook users and were not included in the police department’s post. As of this writing, the only information publicly released by police is that they are attempting to identify and speak with the Corvette driver.
In other words, we know there is a Lightning McQueen-themed Corvette, we know police want to talk to whoever was driving it, and we know Facebook has overwhelmingly decided to protect one of Pixar’s most famous race cars.
Good Luck Getting Anyone to Snitch on Lightning McQueen
The internet has a long history of turning serious police requests into comedy gold, and this may be one of the better examples we’ve seen recently. While a few commenters encouraged anyone with information to contact authorities, the overwhelming majority appeared more interested in protecting Lightning McQueen’s legacy than helping solve whatever mystery brought police to Facebook in the first place.
Whether the driver eventually comes forward remains to be seen. For now, the comments section seems to have reached a unanimous verdict:
Kachow. ⚡️🚗💨