Lyric discussion by Pirtyfool22 

Cover art for Johnny 99 lyrics by Bruce Springsteen

Qbsean10, I don't see it that way with the car crash. The idea of a "part of town where when you hit a red light you don't stop" is a reference to driving through any real scary neighborhood in America. Bruce wasn't saying this was something Ralph/Johnny did literally.

Instead, he talks about him waiving his gun around. So I see Ralph/Johnny having shot the night clerk, drunk and belligerent in the worst part of town, looking for a fight where it is easy to find one. (Underlying suggestion, Ralph/Johnny is white working class guy, he's waiving his gun in the black neighborhood). The cops arrest him before he gets himself killed (perhaps his hidden desire at this point).