A Philadelphia YouTuber has been charged after recording a video of himself driving a large pickup truck through the countryside and bodies of water.
In a video published January 20, YouTuber Michael Hyssong, also known as StreetSpeed717, drove a Dodge Ram TRX through a stream at speed with huge aftermarket tires fitted, as well as performing donuts in a field.
According to a criminal docket, Hyssong, 27, of Harrisburg, was subsequently charged on February 26 on18 counts due to events that took place on January 19.
Of these counts, eight are misdemeanor charges including disturbing waterways or watersheds and allowing a substance harmful to fish to fall in the river. The ten summary charges include running a vehicle in a stream and littering near waters. Hyssong is due to appear at a preliminary hearing on April 19.
In a video addressing the charges, Hyssong said: "It's insane, the fact that I'm in as much legal trouble for this as if I drove drunk, but that's Pennsylvania."
He cites the charges as stating that he caused "a disturbance to the stream, stream bed, fish habitat, water and watershed without the necessary permit."
Hyssong hits out at the charges immediately afterwards. He argues the stream "is not a habitat; I've never seen any fish in there… it's not a habitat, it's like a runoff creek."
"If somebody's out there dumping car batteries in a river, yes let's protect the water. Let's prosecute that person. I'm all for it. I can appreciate the fact that we don't want to destroy the outdoors. But I didn't destroy anything."
Hyssong also said there was "nothing poisonous to fish leaking out of my vehicle," but claimed officers had walked around the area afterwards and "saw things in the stream". He also said he was on private property at the time of the charges.
Hyssong released a later video on March 16 attacking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In it, he said: "They're not an educated bunch when it comes to cars, or probably anything, that's why they work in the government."
According to the affidavit of probable cause seen by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pennsylvania Game Commission received an anonymous tip about a truck driving through a creek on January 19.
It led officials from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission to investigate, who subsequently identified damage to the area. The affidavit reads: "The stream banks were torn up by tire tracks and a ramp was built right alongside the creek."
Newsweek has contacted the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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