Pennsylvania Teens Charged After TikTok Stunts Kill Friend and Leave Another With Permanent Injuries
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Pa. — Two Pennsylvania teens are facing charges after separate TikTok-inspired stunts left one teenager dead and another woman with lifelong injuries, prosecutors announced this week.
Deadly Table Surfing Incident
On June 1, David Nagy, 17, was killed after attempting a dangerous challenge called table surfing, where he rode on top of a folding table tied to the back of a friend’s car.
According to District Attorney Stephen Baratta, the driver whipped the table too fast, slamming Nagy into a parked vehicle. He died from his injuries at the scene.
Parking Lot Car Surfing Accident
In another case on March 18, a 19-year-old woman drove through a parking lot while her 20-year-old friend surfed on her trunk.
The stunt ended in tragedy when the woman fell off, sustaining catastrophic head injuries that doctors say will be permanent.
@abcnewslive Two Pennsylvania teens accused of driving recklessly while attempting “dangerous” social media challenges have been criminally charged in stunts that left one person dead and another with permanent brain damage. The charges stem from separate incidents that both occurred in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, earlier this year. #news #pennsylvania #socialmediachallenge #stunt
Prosecutors Call It Reckless Negligence
Baratta emphasized that neither teen intended to harm their friends, but their actions were “grossly negligent and reckless.”
“The families did have a closeness and a trust with these close friends — I mean they knew them very well. That’s what’s so heartbreaking in this case,” Baratta told reporters.
Families Push for Accountability, Not Jail
Neither of the teens charged has a prior criminal record, and both victims’ families have said they are not calling for jail time.
Baratta indicated his office would not seek incarceration if the defendants agree to plea deals, stressing that the families instead want the cases used as a warning to deter other teens from mimicking social media challenges.
“These families are seeking accountability and hope that these charges will result in deterrence for other youth,” Baratta said.
Do you think social media platforms should be held accountable for stunts like these, or is it solely on teens to make safer choices? Share your opinion in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
