Dirt bikers block bay bridge, elude police in east bay chaos

A massive group of off-road bikers and all-terrain vehicles took over the eastbound lanes of the Bay Bridge Sunday evening, prompting a chaotic scene that snarled traffic in both San Francisco and the East Bay.

Authorities scramble to contain the mayhem

The California Highway Patrol said the riders, estimated to number around 60, drove onto the bridge from the Oakland side and sped off into San Francisco streets, only to regroup and head back east.

When authorities attempted to intervene, the bikers abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, sparking a wide-scale manhunt.

Two people were apprehended in the ensuing chaos, while authorities worked to impound the abandoned bikes and quads. The Oakland Fire Department even had to rescue one rider who attempted to escape by leaping into the Bay.

As the dust settled, a section of the bridge remained closed, causing a significant traffic backups in the area.