A car crash that killed four teenagers in New York may be related to the TikTok car theft challenge.
A total of six teenagers were traveling in a Kia that was allegedly stolen and crashed in Buffalo on Monday morning.
Four of them, aged between 14 and 17, were killed. The fifth passenger is in intensive care and the 16-year-old driver has been treated at the hospital and discharged.
It has now emerged that they may have participated in the so-called “Kia Challenge”.
First appearing over the summer on social media, mainly TikTok, posts show how to hot-wire Kia and Hyundai cars with a USB cord and screwdriver.
In St Petersburg, Florida, police say more than a third of all car thefts here since mid-July are related to the challenge. Los Angeles officials say the viral trend has led to 85% more thefts of Hyundais and Kias than last year.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia blamed Monday’s crash on Kia car fever
On Monday, Buffalo police commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told reporters he believes the teenagers in the fatal crash may have taken up the challenge.
Sky News has reached out to TikTok for comment.
