Police suspect a nationwide TikTok trend of stealing Kia cars could be behind a deadly crash from Monday.
Six teenagers were involved in the crash early that morning, with five of them being ejected from the vehicle that was reported stolen the night before. Four among them, Marcus Webster, 19, Swazine Swindle, 17, Kevin Payne, 16, and Ahjanae Harper, 14, were killed as a result of the crash.
A fifth passenger, an unidentified 14-year-old girl, received treatment from the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital, while the unidentified 16-year-old driver has since been released from a hospital. This driver faces charges of criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The Erie County, New York, district attorney’s office is investigating the crash and expects to file additional charges, according to spokeswoman Kait Munro.
SEE IT: POLICE NATIONWIDE WARN OF CAR-STEALING TIKTOK TREND
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told reporters during a press conference Monday that it is possible the teenagers were participating in a TikTok trend of stealing Kia cars. Videos demonstrate how thieves damage the Kia or Hyundai steering consul and interfere with the ignition on vehicles older than 2021 but younger than 2010 to the point that a key is no longer needed to start the car.
Police departments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and St. Petersburg reported an uptick in Kia thefts since the trend began on TikTok. Neither Kia nor TikTok have responded publicly to the trend.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Among the fatalities, Harper has since been identified as the mother of a baby named Tru. A fundraiser in her honor has raised over $1,800.
