If there’s one community I know that can identify a car using only a blurry set of pixels from security camera footage, it’s the people who read The Autopian. This set of readers has done it before (on multiple occasions).
Once again, the police need our help. The Tewksbury Police Department in Massachusetts is seeking the public’s assistance in trying to identify the driver of a dark SUV that allegedly intentionally ran over a flock of seagulls in a parking lot, killing six.
All the police have to go on is a 20-second slice of security footage of the car driving through the lot, and it’s shot from pretty far away. Do you know what kind of car this is?
Here’s What We Know
The incident happened around noon Eastern time on Thursday, December 11. Police were called at 12:06 p.m. to 1777 Main Street in Tewksbury, which, according to Google Maps, is a strip mall with stores like an Advance Auto Parts, a Dollar Tree, a beauty salon, a cafe, and a hardware store.
Footage shot from the strip mall and published by police (above) shows the SUV driving through the flock of seagulls before crossing the rest of the lot and exiting the frame. It’s only towards the last few seconds do we get a clear view of the car.
When I spoke to a department representative over the phone, they told me they hadn’t yet identified the make or model. Their initial investigation determined that the car “accelerated before driving through the flock.”
I Have My Guesses
From the jump, it feels like we’re looking at a semi-modern SUV or crossover. Going by the general proportions, maybe a mid-sizer. The big headlights and badge suggest it might be something American, like a Chevrolet Traverse or a Ford Explorer, though there are a few Hondas that cross my mind, like the Passport or Pilot, too.
As far as security footage goes, this is par for the course. But we do get a great look at the car’s profile, greenhouse shape, wheels, grille, and more. I’m actually pretty disappointed in myself that I can’t pick this car out immediately.
This incident was brought to my attention via a reader who spends a lot of time in the parking lot where this incident allegedly happened, so I’m extra-motivated to get to the bottom of this. Here’s what they said in their email:
Nearly every morning I sit in that very parking lot with my coffee, reading The Autopian. Sometimes I even buy unsalted snacks for the flock of seagulls that gather there. This morning, I noticed something unusual—the birds were perched on top of a nearby restaurant instead of their usual spot on the pavement. I snapped a photo. Ten minutes later, I read that someone had driven through them, killing six.
As both an animal lover and a car enthusiast, I feel compelled to help. I believe this is one of those moments where Autopian justice should prevail. The community here is incredible at analyzing details, and I’m hoping you can lend your eyes and expertise to help identify the driver responsible.
I’m confident this community will have no trouble figuring out what kind of vehicle did this. There’s no place on the internet more knowledgeable when it comes to cars than this website’s comment section, after all. So have at it.
Top graphic image: Tewksbury Police Department
2021 Honda Passport gets my vote. The badge is too big for Ford, the rear spoiler is shaped right, and there even was a 5-spoke wheel option.
Seagulls are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act
So it is a Federal crime.
AI generated:
“Penalties for killing birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) include misdemeanor charges for first offenses, carrying fines up to $15,000 and/or up to six months in prison, but can escalate to felony charges for subsequent offenses or commercial violations, with potential fines reaching $250,000 and/or two years imprisonment, plus forfeiture of equipment. Penalties depend heavily on intent and the context of the violation (e.g., commercial vs. accidental). “
No guess on the bird killing SUV.
But, I think the first time I found Autopian was from a Reddit link, under r/whatisthiscar or similar, where a car had hit someone and there was a blurry video from which the Autopian readers were able to sleuth out the make and model. I followed the article for a few days, and the community indeed identified the car; a photo of the dented and offending car was posted as proof.
definitely a passport
Reading this whole thread for hte past 2.5 days has me convinced this is the best Yanni/Laurel test for gearheads that I’ve ever seen.
Definitely a Honda Pilot thinking 2020 or so.
The Tewksbury Police Department has way too much time on its hands if they are spending time and money looking for someone who killed 6 seagulls.
If you kill things in public view, you likely are even worse when you assume no one is watching. This, and the fact that life in MA is pretty safe are both reasons to go after someone who would kill wildlife so brazenly.
My job is to drive, the birds job is to get out of they way. There are plenty of seagulls and they are not a protected species. I kill dozens of mice every year, what should be my fate?
Uh… Good? Should towns have an abundance of crime???
Yes.
Honda Passport. I’m a service advisor at a Honda dealership and I see these things everyday.
My educated guess is Ford Explorer Interceptor. I’ve flashed by enough black ones with very dark grey markings that sit on the side of the highway while trying to ID them to hazard a strong guess.
If I was the cops, I would go by the local highway patrol and look for a vehicle that has been recently run through a car wash.
Now I’m getting the plot for Super Troopers III….
They probably ran so far away by now.
Came here to see if someone had made the obvious Flock of Seagulls joke yet.
Seagulls – Stop It Now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9t-slLl30E
LMAO this is in my head for a couple days every month.
Seagull gonna come – poke you in the coconut
and they did
and they did
That log had a child
I lose it at that line every time.
That song is actually in decent rotation on Kids Place Live (Sirius). I was semi-shocked to see internet memes making the mainstream.
However, BLR’s epic masterpiece is an easily overlooked movie trailer called Soy Pablo that only makes sense if you’ve seen Narcos season 1-2.
Mama need to hit that! Yeah, I had to watch that again.
Maybe some tacos, or maybe some burr-i-tos.
We find ourselves singing “Carl Poppa” fairly often.
LA JIGGY JAR JAR DOO
Thanks!
Happy tune that made me actually smile.
Cheers!
I’ll add to the Passport votes, looks close to a Ford Explorer but the foglight positioning is lower than the Explorer and matches a Passport more.
Want to pre-empt my next question with that I’m an animal lover and this is just sick, the driver probably has some mental health issues so should be found and questioned as they probably shouldn’t be operating a motor vehicle. That said, was there a crime committed? Intentional or not, is hitting birds in a parking lot a criminal offense? Gulls are fairly common so don’t imagine they’re a protected species, I’m just wondering if this would be like causing a public disturbance level of offense or if I’m missing something.
I would think that this fits under animal cruelty/abuse which is a felony in MA.
Obviously the dude’s an asshole, but…is this worthy of an article? I feel as if I’ve gotten very drunk and accidentally wandered back into Jalopnik.
It is probably an article here since a member is sorta part of the article.
Felt like a grenade tossed into a quiet room on a Saturday morning. “This’ll keep ’em busy for a while!”
Here, on this site, we enjoy the challenge of IDing a car. Have you not seen the articles on IDing a headlight or taillight? News? No. Fun? Yes.