PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two separate TikTok stunt challenges gone tragically wrong have led authorities in Northampton County to announce charges against two Bethlehem Township teen drivers.
Officials said in one case, a 17-year-old boy was charged with involuntary manslaughter after an incident in June. He is accused of tying an upside-down folding table to the back of his vehicle and then recklessly pulling that table through a school parking lot while his 17-year-old friend sat on top of the table. The teen was thrown into a parked vehicle and died.
In the second case, a 19-year-old woman is facing unspecified charges for allegedly recklessly driving a vehicle through a parking lot back in March while her 20-year-old friend "surfed" on the vehicle's trunk. Her friend was thrown from the vehicle and suffered permanent head injuries.
Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said the charges are meant to send a message about the dangers of these challenges.
"We announced these charges to deliver a message to everyone that when you engage in such reckless behavior that places someone in danger of serious injury or death, you could be held criminally culpable for your behavior,” Baratta said.
"I wanted to make the announcement about how dangerous this kind of behavior was and that the fact that criminal charges were filed, so that we deliver an appropriate message to other youth who might consider these challenges."
Baratta also emphasized that the parents of the victims are not seeking revenge or additional punishment.
“Neither set of parents is out to seek revenge or even punishment for the drivers, but they also knew if nothing is done, there will be other young victims as these TikTok Challenges seem to increase in attraction,” he said.
The challenges were videotaped, and as a part of the investigation, the district attorney said search warrants were issued to access cell phones from juveniles at the scenes. He said the teenagers won't face jail time if they agree to plead guilty in the case.