The California police are investigating a fatal crash that claimed the lives of two men, who may have stolen the car they were driving to participate in the popular “Kia Challenge” on TikTok.
21-year-old Jess Bradford Jr. and 16-year-old Michael Wyrick were identified as the occupants of a Hyundai that crashed into a fence and tree in Peterson Park in Lodi. It is suspected that the deceased individuals had stolen the car to participate in the viral TikTok challenge.
Authorities suspect that the two men were part of a group of individuals who stole a Kia and Hyundai on Sunday night, possibly to complete the “Kia Challenge” trend, which involves using wiring and a USB to start the vehicles.
An hour before the fatal crash, the drivers of the Hyundai and the drivers of the Kia, who are still missing, were involved in a short pursuit that ended when the drivers turned off their vehicle lights, authorities said.
This is not the first time that accidents in the city of Lodi and in California have been linked to TikTok challenges. Last fall, four teenagers died in Buffalo when they were speeding in a stolen Kia to complete a challenge.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with relevant information to come forward immediately.
TikTok has become a favorite social media platform for millions in the last decade, but the type of content that circulates on the platform can have negative effects. This fatal crash linked to TikTok challenge highlights the terrible consequences that social media influence can have on certain individuals.
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