Rome street race driver -- dubbed the moray eel -- nabbed by police
ROME (AFP) - A Roman street racer, known in local slang as "Er Murena" or the moray eel for his speed and agility, has been arrested after ripping off drivers in his souped-up 500-horsepower Subaru Impreza, reports said.
The driver -- identified by La Repubblica newspaper only by his nickname -- said he and two friends scanned the streets of Rome at night for Ferrari or Porsche drivers who looked "like they'd be played" into betting up to 5,000 euros or even their cars in a race.
"The plan was simple," the 22-year-old told the daily. "I teased them, then I tried them ... nine times out of ten the idiot walked straight into the trap."
"I just destroyed them with my Impreza," the eel said. "In three years, I never lost."
The man faces charges for hit-and-run driving, a series of traffic violations, inflicting injuries, and failure to render assistance to a person in danger.
His Subaru has been impounded.