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Two Pennsylvania Teens Face Charges in Fatal Social Media Stunts
Bethlehem Township, PA – Two teenagers face criminal charges following separate incidents involving reckless driving while attempting social media “stunt challenges.” Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta announced the charges Tuesday, emphasizing the severe, real-world consequences of such online trends.
In the first incident, a 17-year-old was killed on June 1st. The teen was sitting on an overturned folding table being pulled by a vehicle driven by a friend in a high school parking lot.
The driver, also 17, allegedly operated the vehicle recklessly at high speed, causing the table to slam into a parked vehicle. The 17-year-old driver faces charges in juvenile court, including involuntary manslaughter.
The second incident occurred in March. A 20-year-old woman suffered permanent brain damage after being thrown from the back of a moving vehicle while “surfing.” The 19-year-old driver is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle, careless driving, and allowing a person to hang onto a vehicle.
District Attorney Baratta stated that while the teens did not intend to harm anyone, their actions were grossly negligent and reckless. He confirmed that both incidents were related to social media challenges, including some from TikTok. The names of the defendants and victims have not been released.
Both teens are first-time offenders. Baratta anticipates that the cases will be resolved without trial, potentially allowing the charges to be expunged if court-supervised programs are completed.
He also shared that the victims’ parents supported the charges, seeking accountability and hoping to deter others from engaging in such dangerous behavior. They expressed disappointment in both their own children and their friends for participating in these challenges.