Police Believe This Teen's Car Crash Was Tied to the Bird Box Challenge
Police suspect that a recent viral challenge inspired by the popular Netflix horror movie Bird Box was responsible for a car accident on Monday.
Authorities in Layton, Utah say that the 17-year-old girl who swerved into an oncoming vehicle before crashing into a light pole was participating in the ‘Bird Box Challenge’, According to a local news report.
“Bird Box Challenge while driving…predictable result. This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries,” police tweeted Friday.
Bird Box Challenge while driving...predictable result. This happened on Monday as a result of the driver covering her eyes while driving on Layton Parkway. Luckily no injuries. pic.twitter.com/4DvYzrmDA2
— Layton Police (@laytonpolice) January 11, 2019
What is the ‘Bird Box Challenge’? It all started with the Netflix’ movie Bird Box in late December. The film, starring Sandra Bullock, is about a supernatural entity that causes people to kill themselves if they look at it. As a result, the main characters have to navigate the world wearing blindfolds in order to avoid their demise. Shortly after the release of the movie, some people started sharing images of them doing various tasks while blindfolded with the hashtag #BirdBoxChallenge.
Only in NY #BirdBox #BirdBoxChallenge @NigelDPresents pic.twitter.com/VPemHPdovu
— Tommy (@THOMAS_RE89) December 25, 2018
Y’all gotta chill #BirdBoxChallenge ???????? why he do the baby like that pic.twitter.com/hspFdNHzTC
— Mya???? (@sosomyaaa) December 27, 2018
Word of the challenge and the obvious dangers it was presenting reached Netflix fast. The company sent out a tweet on Jan. 2, urging people not to participate in the fad.
Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.
— Netflix US (@netflix) January 2, 2019
It would appear that not everyone is heeding the streaming service’s words. Police say the young woman in question had pulled her hat over her eyes while she was driving, which resulted in the crash. While nobody was injured, it’s safe to say that driving a car while blindfolded is definitely the opposite of a good idea.