🚨 Cybertruck Crashes Onto UW-Madison Campus, Hurls Weed and Bongs at Voters During Election Day Chaos

By Dan Conderman
April 9, 2025 – Madison, WI

In one of the most bizarre events to unfold on Election Day in Madison, a man driving a Tesla Cybertruck drove erratically onto Library Mall Tuesday evening, shouting political slogans and hurling marijuana and glass bongs at startled onlookers. The incident, which was captured in part on video and widely discussed on Reddit, culminated in the man’s arrest and left bystanders shocked, amused, and deeply confused.

🚚 The Incident

At approximately 7:30 PM, the Cybertruck was seen speeding off-road onto the lawn at Library Mall, a central pedestrian space on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Witnesses say the driver narrowly missed pedestrians before exiting the vehicle and shouting phrases like “Free weed!”, “Vote for the man!”, and “Big balls!”—the last possibly referencing an obscure internet campaign associated with Elon Musk fandom and the controversial site MuskWatch.com.

As crowds scattered, the man began removing large boxes from the Cybertruck containing what appeared to be thousands of dollars in cannabis products and paraphernalia. Multiple witnesses confirmed the presence of RAW rolling kits, edibles, pre-rolled joints, and high-end glass bongs, many of which were thrown or smashed on the pavement.

One bystander reported that the products had been purchased using a credit card and estimated the total value at over $11,000.

🎵 Soundtrack to Chaos

The surreal nature of the event was intensified by the loudspeaker playing “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, an early 2000s pop anthem, which played as the man screamed and tossed the contents of his truck. Reddit users described the experience as “a South Park episode come to life.”

🛑 Arrest and Response

The Madison Police Department responded quickly, detaining the man without further incident. According to an official MPD officer on scene, no weapons or explosives were found. Authorities confirmed that the suspect was not affiliated with the university, corroborated by a UWPD statement stating that none of those detained during the night’s events were students or staff.

⚖️ Political Overlap

At the same time, a separate protest was unfolding nearby at the Memorial Union, where students had gathered in support of Palestinian rights. Confusion arose when a UW student was reportedly detained by UWPD and briefly transported before being released a short distance away. This sparked further outcry over First Amendment protections, ICE fears, and the increased presence of law enforcement at polling locations.

🧠 Mental Health and Speculation

The individual’s motives remain unclear, but Reddit users and community members were quick to debate whether the incident was a political stunt, performance art, or evidence of a mental health crisis. Some commenters claimed to have identified the man as a DevSecOps engineer and recent graduate from UW-Stevens Point, citing social media behavior that suggests recent instability.

Others saw the event as a metaphor for America’s cultural and political breakdown, pointing to themes of identity, ideology, and desperation in the post-COVID era.

💬 Community Reaction

Reaction from Madisonians ranged from laughter to concern:

“This is exactly what DARE warned us about,” one Redditor joked.
“Imagine having that much disposable income and that few functioning brain cells,” another quipped.
“He just rolled in there like he was the Loose Juice cart,” a third added, referencing a local campus food vendor.

More serious responses called attention to the need for mental health resources, the dangers of politicizing campus life, and the absurdity of an election season that now includes flying glass, weed giveaways, and pop songs.

🔍 What’s Next?

Police have not released the man’s name or charges as of this writing. No injuries were reported. It is unclear whether he was under the influence at the time or what specific political message—if any—he intended to promote.

🧠 Editorial Note:

In an age of hyper-personal politics, social media radicalization, and public mental health crises, events like this—equal parts meme, meltdown, and mayhem—challenge our understanding of protest, expression, and even sanity. Whether it was a cry for help, a misguided stunt, or a performance gone wrong, Tuesday’s incident will be remembered as a uniquely Madison moment.