Photo Courtesy Of YouTube / WKBW TV
Four teens recently died in a car crash after reportedly performing the viral TikTok Trend “The Kia Challenge.”
According to the New York Post, Marcus Webster, Swazine Swindle, Kevin Payne, and Ahjanae Harper died after the car crashed on the Kensington Expressway in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo police said the vehicle, a Kia, was stolen on October 3, and the incident occurred the following day, on October 4.
“Five of the six occupants, all but the driver, were ejected,” WIVB reported.
Officials believe Webster (19), Swindle (17), Payne (16), and Harper (14) stole the car to participate in the TikTok trend “The Kia Challenge,” which shows viewers how to hot-wire vehicles with a screwdriver and USB cable.
The 16-year-old driver of the stolen Kia, whose name hasn’t been released to the public, was reportedly treated at Erie County Medical Center and is one of two survivors. He’s also been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal possession of stolen property. Still, police have since released him from custody as he had a scheduled court date on October 28.
The second survivor, an unnamed 14-year-old girl, was hospitalized in intensive care but was later discharged.
Harper’s family recently launched a GoFundMe account to raise $15,000. The report suggests that the teen would’ve been celebrating her 15th birthday recently and also giving birth to a baby girl.
Swindle’s sister, Nashira Anderson, said her brother loved playing basketball and being a jokester.
Webster was reportedly working hard in school and at his job.
“We certainly send our deepest condolences and sympathies to all the families and everyone impacted by this unfortunate and horrific tragedy,” the Buffalo Public School District said in a statement released a statement about the tragic crash via Twitter, saying the company “plans to partner with law enforcement nationwide to provide free steering wheel locks.”