Teen Driver Who Caused Crash Had Eyes Covered For 'Bird Box Challenge': Cops

LAYTON, UT — According to local police, a 17-year-old drove into oncoming traffic and caused a multi-vehicle accident after she covered her eyes as part of the “Bird Box Challenge” — an online craze inspired by the Netflix movie Bird Box in which participants perform tasks blindfolded.

The driver, who was accompanied by a 16-year-old passenger, allegedly pulled her hat down over her eyes and careened her pick-up truck into the opposite lane of Layton Parkway.

She struck a car being driven by a 56-year-old man, and then crashed into a light pole. Amazingly, no injuries were reported, but both vehicles are totaled.

According to Layton Police Lieutenant Travis Lyman, who took the driver into custody:

“Apparently, as a part of this ‘Bird Box Challenge,’ [the driver] used her beanie to pull over her eyes as she was driving on Layton Parkway, and she ended up losing control of her car and skidded into the westbound lanes of Layton Parkway and hit another car and ended up hitting a light pole as well.”

In the sci-fi film Bird Box, characters must operate through the world with their eyes masked or they’ll die instantly. The hugely popular hit generated memes and then online videos of people taking the “Bird Box challenge” to do ordinary things while blindfolded. Driving, despite being a terrible idea, has been one of them.

In rapid fashion, reports emerged of injuries resulting from the “Bird Box challenge.” On January 2, Netflix itself issued a safety warning via Twitter. The company made references to Bird Box characters Boy and Girl, and officially tweeted:

“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.”

Lyman went on to say that the incident is still being investigated, but that police have asked the district attorney’s office to approach this as a case of reckless driving. The veteran officer added:

"With driving, the stakes are so high anyway that it's just inexcusable to do something as dangerous as this, not only to yourself but everyone else on the road. It's just such serious business driving a car…. I thought the ‘Tide Pod Challenge’ — I was really speechless on that one — but this one is kind of the same.”

The driver has not been identified due to her age. Potential charges are still pending.

Read more: Layton Police Department, KSL, MEAWW