Dangerous 'Drift Challenge' Leads to Crash on Louisiana Highway

Louisiana Police are warning parents and teen drivers to avoid the most recent TikTok trend after a serious accident shut down a section of a major thruway in the Baton Rouge area.

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Social media challenges are all fun and games until someone gets hurt and Louisiana Police have issued a statement in response to a serious crash that was caused by a trend on TikTok called 'Drifting'.

According to the Central Police Department, a driver lost control of his vehicle while attempting the drift challenge, intentionally oversteering the car to lose traction. In most cases the car will swerve or slide putting everyone on the road at risk.

This particular incident occurred near the intersection of Central Thruway and Frenchtown Road when the driver went off-road, crossed the media, and crashed with another vehicle. The driver attempting the drift challenge car caught on fire, and the road was closed temporarily.

Thankfully, no one involved was seriously injured but local police are using this close call to bring awareness to just how dangerous this TikTok challenge is and why it needs to be avoided. Read their statement below.

Central Louisiana Police Warn About Dangerous Social Media 'Drift Challenge' in a Post on Facebook:

"CENTRAL POLICE URGE CAUTION TO PARENTS OF DRIVING-AGE CHILDREN AFTER YESTERDAY'S CRASH THAT PARTIALLY CLOSED CENTRAL THRUWAY

Yesterday, officers with your CPD were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on the Thruway near Frenchtown. Witnesses reported to CPD that the northbound vehicle was weaving back-and-forth repeatedly as far back as Oneal Lane before entering our city. At times that vehicle would "brake check" other cars on the road.

As the vehicle approached the Thruway's intersection with Frenchtown it ran off the roadway to the left, crossed the median, struck a southbound vehicle, and came to a stop on the west side of the roadway. Moments later that vehicle caught fire.

Based on statements from witnesses and the drivers involved, the northbound driver was playing a "drift" game or challenge featured on the social media platforms Tik Tok and YouTube during which he lost control of his vehicle. Drifting is loosely defined as intentionally oversteering causing loss of traction.

Parents, we encourage you to investigate "Drift" and "Double Drift" and caution your driving-age children against engaging in this highly dangerous activity on our roadways. One young driver found out this evening that these challenges have real world consequences."

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Gallery Credit: DJ Digital

Source: Louisiana Police Issue Urgent Warning on Deadly TikTok ‘Drift Challenge’ After Serious Crash

Categories: Local News, State News